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Donaustauf Castle today

Germany · Ruin

Donaustauf Castle

Burgruine Donaustauf

Donaustauf Castle is a ruined hill castle sited on a steep spur above the River Danube by the market village of Donaustauf in Bavaria. The site overlays much earlier Celtic and early-medieval fortifications and survives today as stabilised ruins managed by the municipality.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

930

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 930

What Donaustauf Castle looked like in its prime.

Perched on a steep, tree-covered conical spur above the Danube, the castle is a compact pale-stone complex: long, low curtain walls step along the ridge and descend the slopes, while a taller rectangular summit hall/keep with large arched window openings and a ruined gable dominates the summit. Masonry appears light grey-beige rubble with ashlar around openings; terraces and the remnants of a lower outer bailey fall away to the northeast. At its prime the circuit would have been continuous and the halls roofed.

Its story

The story of Donaustauf Castle.

Donaustauf Castle is a ruined hill castle set at 424 metres above sea level on a spur overlooking the River Danube, by the market village of Donaustauf in the Upper Palatine county of Regensburg, Bavaria. The site overlays much earlier Celtic and early-medieval fortifications, and the market village itself grew up during the Middle Ages under the protection of the castle's mighty fortifications.

Since 6 April 1986 the castle ruins have belonged to Donaustauf, and from 1997 the municipality had the castle made safe and renovated; the stabilised ruins remain in municipal care today.

Step inside

5 places to explore in 930.

The record describes 5 distinct spots at Donaustauf Castle, including the full exterior approach. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach from the River DanubeSummit: main hall / keepCurtain wall and rampartsNortheast lower outer bailey (excavation area)Village at the hill foot with parish church

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Questions about Donaustauf Castle

What is the history of Donaustauf Castle?

Donaustauf Castle has roots in a Celtic fortification from around 500 BC and a medieval castle built between 914 and 930 to defend the area from Hungarian invasion. The Regensburg bishops later used it at times as a residence. It changed hands several times, was devastated during the Cities’ War, and was captured, blown up and burned by Swedish forces in 1634 before falling into ruin from the late 17th century.

What is inside Donaustauf Castle?

Inside Donaustauf Castle, the surviving features include parts of the palas, inner gate buildings and a chapel. The chapel occupied the upper floor of an inner gate tower and had a three-aisled hall with three bays, while the palas retains one wall with a Romanesque double window. Four of the original six gates remain visible.

Who owns Donaustauf Castle now?

Donaustauf Castle is owned by Donaustauf. The castle ruins have belonged to the municipality since 6 April 1986, and the municipality made them safe and renovated them from 1997. The ruins remain in municipal care today.

Why was Donaustauf Castle built, and what was it used for?

Donaustauf Castle was built to defend the area from Hungarian invasion. Its site had earlier been a Celtic fortification, and the medieval castle later served at times as a residence for the Regensburg bishops. Under the city of Regensburg it also served as a prison for citizens of Donaustauf.

Where is Donaustauf Castle?

Donaustauf Castle is in Bavaria, on a hill spur above the River Danube beside the market village of Donaustauf. It stands in the Upper Palatine county of Regensburg, at a height of 424 metres above sea level. Donaustauf is the nearest named settlement and the castle overlooks the village.

When was Donaustauf Castle built?

Donaustauf Castle was built in the 10th century, between 914 and 930. Bishop Tuto of Regensburg commissioned the castle as a defence against Hungarian invasion. The surviving medieval fabric includes components dating from around 1060/70, including the ring wall, palas, inner gate buildings and chapel.

Was Donaustauf Castle ever attacked or besieged?

Donaustauf Castle was attacked and besieged several times. Bavarian dukes captured and partly destroyed it in 1132, 1146 and 1161; it was devastated in the Cities’ War in 1385/88 and unsuccessfully besieged by Bavarian troops in 1388. Swedish forces captured, blew up and burned it in January 1634, after heavy losses.

What did Donaustauf Castle look like in its prime?

In its prime, Donaustauf Castle was a compact pale-stone hill fortress on a steep, tree-covered conical spur above the Danube. Long, low curtain walls followed the ridge and descended the slopes, while a taller rectangular summit hall or keep had large arched window openings and a ruined gable. Terraces and a lower outer bailey extended towards the northeast.

Is Donaustauf Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Donaustauf Castle is a ruin, but its stabilised remains are still standing. The municipality made the ruins safe and renovated them from 1997. Surviving elements include sections of the ring wall, palas, inner gate buildings and chapel, while the square keep no longer survives.

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