Schloss Asparn/Zaya, Medieval castle and archaeological museum in Asparn an der Zaya, Austria

Schloss Asparn/Zaya is a castle housing a museum dedicated to human history in Asparn an der Zaya, Austria. The MAMUZ museum displays original artifacts, interactive stations, and digital installations across multiple gallery spaces, while an outdoor archaeological park extends the experience beyond the castle walls.

Hadmar von Sonnberg built the castle in the second half of the 13th century on the remains of a fortification mentioned in 1121. The Walsee lords rebuilt it from 1421, adding the two massive corner towers, and Count Seyfried Christoph von Breuner made it his residence in 1610. Swedish troops devastated it in 1645; repairs in 1651 gave it its present form, and the north wing was demolished in 1820.

The outdoor archaeological area displays residential structures from different periods, ranging from Stone Age huts to medieval buildings built with traditional materials. These reconstructions allow visitors to understand directly how people lived across various ages.

Visitors can purchase combination tickets to explore both the castle exhibitions and the outdoor archaeological area. Group tours are available and provide deeper insights into the displayed objects and outdoor reconstructions.

Since 1982 the archaeological open-air area has served as a teaching and training centre for experimental archaeology for the University of Vienna's Institute of Prehistoric and Historical Archaeology. Students from across Europe attend courses here each year, and the 1:1 reconstructions are based on excavation findings.