Ruine Hinterhaus, Medieval castle ruin in Spitz, Austria
Ruine Hinterhaus is a castle ruin perched on a rocky outcrop above the Wachau town of Spitz, in Lower Austria. What remains are sections of perimeter wall and a tower that still stands several stories high above the valley.
The castle was built in the 12th century by the Kuenringers, one of the most powerful noble families in Lower Austria, who used it to watch over river traffic on the Danube. It fell into disuse and gradual decay over the following centuries, and was never rebuilt.
The name Hinterhaus means roughly the house at the back, referring to its position behind the older settlement below. Walking around the site, visitors can still read how the buildings were arranged in layers up the hillside.
The ruin is reachable on foot from the center of Spitz in a short walk, though the path climbs steeply and can be slippery after rain. Sturdy shoes make the difference, and entry to the site is free.
The Kuenringers were at times accused of raiding merchant ships passing below, earning them the local nickname of robber knights. This darker side of their reputation contrasts with the role they presented publicly as guardians of the valley.
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