Ruine Schauenstein, Medieval castle ruins in Pölla, Austria.
Schauenstein is a castle ruin set on a steep slope of Buchberg overlooking the Kamptal valley in Lower Austria. The remains include stone walls and tower foundations perched on a rocky outcrop above the river valley.
The Babenbergers built the fortress in the 11th and 12th centuries as a stronghold against northern threats. The castle was destroyed during the Thirty Years War and never fully rebuilt after that conflict.
The ruins show construction from different periods layered on top of each other as you walk through the site. You can see how the fortress changed hands and was rebuilt multiple times across the centuries.
You can reach the ruins via several walking paths starting from villages in the area, with different route lengths to suit various abilities. Once there, pick up a key from the local hotel or inn to climb the observation tower for views over the valley.
A local volunteer group began restoring the ruins in the 1980s to stop further decay and opened them to visitors. The site is now protected as a historical monument and regularly maintained for public access.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
