Schallenberg Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Kleinzell im Mühlkreis, Austria
Schallenberg Castle is a castle ruin situated on a rocky outcrop about 434 meters above sea level, surrounded by steep cliffs and the winding Große Mühl river. The remains display the typical position and structure of a medieval fortification built at this elevation.
The stronghold was built around 1231 as a property of the Passau Prince-Bishopric and first appeared in written sources through a donation to the Cistercian abbey of Wilhering in 1260. Early documentation establishes its importance as a strategic fortification in this region.
The castle represents a time when fortifications controlled trade routes and travel through the Mühlviertel region. It shows how important such strongholds were for people who used the river and traveled these ancient paths.
The site can be reached via an unmarked trail that visitors must carefully seek out to locate the historical remains. Good preparation and a sense of direction are helpful for reaching this remote location.
The family crypt of the Schallenbergs is preserved in the St. Josef Cemetery Chapel in Niederwaldkirchen and connects the history of the castle with its inhabitants into the present day. This place of remembrance shows how the family remained linked to the region across generations.
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