Country Austria District Krems-Land Time zone CET (UTC+1) Population 875 (1 Apr 2009) | State Lower Austria Elevation 209 m (686 ft) Postal code 3601 Local time Wednesday 10:55 PM | |
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Weather 2°C, Wind W at 2 km/h, 81% Humidity Points of interest Burgruine Dürnstein, Stift Dürnstein, Fesslhütte, Domäne Wachau | ||
D rnstein in der wachau
Dürnstein is a small town on the Danube river in the Krems-Land district, in the Austrian state of Lower Austria. It is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in the Wachau region and also a well-known wine growing area. The municipality consists of the Katastralgemeinden Dürnstein, Oberloiben and Unterloiben.
Contents
- D rnstein in der wachau
- Map of 3601 DC3BCrnstein Austria
- Feuerwehren aus drei bezirken bei gro brand in d rnstein im einsatz
- Etymology
- History
- Politics
- International relations
- References
Map of 3601 D%C3%BCrnstein, Austria
Feuerwehren aus drei bezirken bei gro brand in d rnstein im einsatz
Etymology
The town gained its name from the medieval castle Burgruine Dürnstein, which overlooked it. The castle was called "Duerrstein" or "Dürrstein", from the German duerr/dürr, meaning "dry", and Stein, "stone". The castle was dry because it was on a rocky hill, high above the damp conditions of the Danube at the base of the hill, and it was built of stone.
History
Dürnstein was first mentioned in 1192 when, in the castle above the town, King Richard I of England was held captive by Leopold V, Duke of Austria after their dispute during the Third Crusade. Richard the Lionheart had offended Leopold the Virtuous by casting down his standard from the walls at the Battle of Acre, and the duke suspected that King Richard ordered the murder of his cousin Conrad of Montferrat in Jerusalem. In consequence Pope Celestine III excommunicated Leopold for capturing a fellow crusader. The duke finally gave the custody of the king to Emperor Henry VI, who imprisoned Richard at Trifels Castle.
Dürnstein Castle was almost completely destroyed by the troops of the Swedish Empire under Field Marshal Lennart Torstenson in 1645.
Dürnstein Abbey (Stift Dürnstein) was established in 1410 by Canons Regular from Třeboň and from 1710 rebuilt in a Baroque style according to plans by Joseph Munggenast, Jakob Prandtauer and Matthias Steinl. The monastery was dissolved by order of Emperor Joseph II in 1788 and fell to the Herzogenburg Priory.
During the War of the Third Coalition the Battle of Dürenstein was fought nearby on November 11, 1805.
Politics
Seats in the municipal assembly as of 2015 elections:
International relations
Dürnstein is twinned with: