Posted in:

Burg Schlaining

© by Arnold Weisz

Burg Schlaining is very well preserved and dates from the beginning of the 12th century. The castle can be visited and today houses a centre for conflict resolution and a peace museum.

Installing a peace museum and peace institute in a castle is a bit of a contradiction – or maybe not. Notwithstanding, both the castle itself and the Peace Museum are worth a visit if you are in the region. The castle is only a small detour of 20 km away from the A2 motorway between Vienna and Graz.

Easily accessible

Castles are often located in inaccessible places, such as on heights and in difficult terrain. No wonder, since they must be defensible. Burg Schlaining, on the other hand, is located just outside the small town of Stadtschlaining. To reach the castle’s main gate you simply cross over the bridge, which connects the small town of Stadtschlaining with the castle. The lovely old bridge across the gorge is made of stone arches. You find parking spaces right by the bridge into the fortress.

<< Click on the images to enlarge >>

Explore on your own

You can visit the beautiful castle and the museum without a guide. Once you enter through the main gate and have paid the entrance fee, you can explore all the available rooms. A large courtyard is also a nice place for a small picnic with a lunch basket. Or simply get a bite to eat in the small restaurant at the main entrance. Although you can walk around as you wish, they have marked a route through the castle with red arrows on the floor. Among the most beautiful rooms is the Knights’ Hall with its old frescoes and the castle chapel with its delicate Baroque décor. For a great view of Stadtschlaining and the surrounding area head up the tower.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rich history

The castle was originally located on an important trade route between north and south and was known as Castrum Zloynuk, which eventually became Burg Schlaining. Until 1980 the castle was owned for centuries by Austrian-Hungarian nobles and during the 20th century under private ownership. The castle has belonged to the State of Burgenland since 1980. During the First World War, the castle was used to house Russian prisoners of war (officers). Between 1939 and 1945 the castle was used as a prisoner of war and labour camp. During 1945-1947 the castle served as a criminal prison for captured Nazis.

Stadtschlaining (Schlaining town)

Around the castle, the settlement which later was named Stadtschlaining (in Hungarian: Városszalónak) grew up. The town, which began with the construction of the walls and the three gates, was not exceptionally large but ambitious. Slowly merchants and craftsmen settled down in the town. In 1663 about 100 families were living in and around the town. Today Stadtschlaining has almost 2000 inhabitants and is located in the middle of Burgenland, Austria’s easternmost and newest state. This part of Austria belonged to Hungary until 1921. Many of the town’s historic buildings are well-preserved and a stroll around is well worth the time. Around the small square in the middle of the small town, you find a couple of restaurants and cafes. If you want to stay overnight, aim for Hotel Burg Schlaining just around the corner.

  • A family with a wheel cahir user in the Austrian Alps

    Posted in:

    Barrier-free holiday in the Austrian Alps

    Although barrier-free travel in Austria is not readily available everywhere, slowly but surely, more and more destinations offer at least some access for guests with restricted mobility or families with small children in strollers. Focus on mobility Whether hiking with a pram, wheelchair, or walker, or with other impairments, if you are looking for comfortable […]

    Read more

  • Railjet from the Austrian State Railway in a winterlandscape

    Posted in:

    6 cool ski resorts reachable by train in Austria

    Austria’s airports are well-connected to major cities and central train stations. Therefore, we have put together a list of excellent ski resorts that are easily reachable by train, including some info on how to get there from the airport. Moreover, many ski resorts offer inexpensive or free transfers to and from the nearest train station […]

    Read more

  • Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse

    Posted in:

    Self-drive holiday from Salzburg

    We put together some suggestions for a self-drive from Salzburg that gives you a variety of experiences. Visit historic villages and medieval castles, get back to nature on fantastic family-friendly hikes in the Alps, enjoy a relaxing lakeside stay and drive on some truly stunning roads. So let’s hit the road! Historic Mauterndorf, Lungau Starting […]

    Read more

  • Main square Hartberg, Styria, Austria

    Posted in:

    Hartberg – Slowness in historic surroundings

    Many old buildings are well preserved, creating a great atmosphere. The historic centre of Hartberg lies within the partially preserved city wall from the Middle Ages (12th and 13th centuries), which once surrounded the entire town. Today, visitors and residents enjoy a place where you can relax and enjoy life – in historic surroundings. The […]

    Read more

  • Murau

    Posted in:

    Murau – A historic pearl in the Alps

    If you are on your way through northwestern Styria, you should take the opportunity to visit the old historic centre of the small town with just over 3,400 inhabitants. Murau is beautifully situated in a valley that stretches in an east-west direction through northern Styria — surrounded by a typical alpine landscape on the south […]

    Read more

Advertisements

Share, , Google Plus, Pinterest,

Written by Arnold Weisz

Globetrotting multilingual communications specialist born in Vienna, Austria – with passion for scuba diving, golf and culinary delights! 15 years of experience as a scuba- and travel reporter for among others: X-Ray Dive Magazine and Dykking.