Burgruine Emmerberg, Medieval castle ruins in Winzendorf-Muthmannsdorf, Austria

Burgruine Emmerberg stands on a 583-meter-high mountain ridge above the Prosset Gorge, with steep cliffs protecting three sides and fortified walls reinforcing the southeast face. The structure displays typical features of a medieval mountain fortress with strategically advantageous positioning.

The site was first documented in 1170 and remained under Emmerberg family control until 1455, when the male line ended and ownership passed through several noble families. These transitions shaped the fortress through subsequent centuries.

The Emmerberg coat of arms shows a water bucket on a blue field, the emblem of a family that held the office of Truchsess for several generations. The meaning of the bucket was never fully explained, and it gave rise to numerous legends.

A parking area exists near the L87 road, from which the ruins are accessible via the Eselsteig hiking trail through the forest in about 20 minutes. The path is well-marked and offers views of the surroundings during the ascent.

The Emmerberg family coat of arms shows a water bucket on a blue field, a symbol whose meaning scholars have never fully explained. It gave rise to numerous legends. The family produced Salzburg archbishop Friedrich IV Truchsess von Emmerberg (1441–1452).