Ruins of Arnstein Castle

On the 561 meter high Arnstein, you can discover the remains of Arnstein Castle, which was built in the 12th century, in the dense forest. After it was destroyed during the Turkish siege in 1529, the complex was partially rebuilt and changed hands several times. Since 1955, the ruins have been managed by the Austrian Federal Forests. A detour to the Arnsteinnadel rock formation is also worthwhile.

The Arnstein castle ruins are the ruins of a hilltop castle on a foothill of the Peilstein in the Lower Austrian village of Maria Raisenmarkt. Remains of the walls of a round tower, a castle gate and the palace have been preserved.
The following legend has been handed down about Arnstein Castle: An evil woman once lived in the castle, who always treated her subordinates and other poor people badly, for example by putting their dogs on them. When her husband, the lord of the castle, was on a crusade, she gave birth to a child. However, this was misshapen, it was born with the face of a dog. The woman then drowned it. When her husband returned home and found out about the crime, he punished his wife for the child's death. He locked her in a barrel, which was prepared with nails on the inside, and let her roll it down the rocky slope of the castle hill. According to legend, where the barrel finally came to a standstill, the church of Maria Raisenmarkt was built, which developed into a place of pilgrimage

The ruins of a hilltop castle from the 12th century. The remains of a round tower, a castle gate and the palace have been preserved.
The name Arnstein is made up of Arn and Stein. Arn is interpreted as a derivation of Aar, a historical name for the eagle; until the Middle Ages, castles were generally referred to as Stein. The name Arnstein can therefore be translated as eagle castle.