Türkensturz, Artificial ruin on limestone cliff in Scheiblingkirchen-Thernberg, Austria

The Türkensturz is an artificial ruin of mortared rubble masonry set on a steep rock face in Gleißenfeld, in the Bucklige Welt of Lower Austria. Its large pointed arch stands between two thick, uneven pillar sections, the right one taller and wider; a lower broken section to the left holds a smaller opening. A wooden picnic table sits on the flat ground in front.

Prince Johann I Joseph of Liechtenstein built this decorative ruin in 1824 as part of the European fashion for artificial ruins in landscape design. The project reflected the romantic ideals that shaped European aesthetics during that era.

The name comes from a 1532 story where local farmers supposedly drove Ottoman soldiers off the cliff during the Turkish invasions. This tale remains part of the local identity and shapes how people remember the place.

The site can be reached via the Archduke Johann circular hiking trail, which starts at Scheiblingkirchen's parish church and winds through the surrounding forests. The path offers several vantage points and takes hikers past other local landmarks.

The crescent ornament on the front tower fell with it on 16 April 2023, probably after heavy rain. It was found again soon afterwards but has not been remounted, so the silhouette differs from older photographs. The site was closed for a time and has been accessible again since April 2024, though walking on it remains at your own risk.