
Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras) in Innsbruck offers an intriguing Chamber of Art and Wonders. One exhibit is a portrait of Count Vlad III Dracul Tzepesch. He is considered the inspiration for Dracula, a novel by Bram Stoker. [German]
You only see what you know (Goethe)

Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras) in Innsbruck offers an intriguing Chamber of Art and Wonders. One exhibit is a portrait of Count Vlad III Dracul Tzepesch. He is considered the inspiration for Dracula, a novel by Bram Stoker. [German]

While passing the municipality of Stainach-Pürgg by train, I took this pic of Trautenfels Castle (Schloss Trautenfels). It houses collections about the Styrian regions of Ennstal and Ausseerland. The striking mountain behind the castle is known as Grimming.

Hochosterwitz Castle (Burg Hochosterwitz) stands on a 170-metre-high Dolomite rock near St. Georgen am Längsee. Wannabe conquerers had to pass 14 fortified gates to get to the top.

Nordkirchen Castle (Schloss Nordkirchen) is one of the most magnificent moated castles in the region of Münster. As it is considered the most representative Baroque residence in Westphalia, the complex is also named “Westphalian Versailles”. [German]

View of Seggau Castle (Schloss Seggau) taken from the nearby Frauenberg Hill. On the walls of the central building, you find an extensive compilation of ancient Roman tombstones.

Lichtenwalde Castle in Saxony is best known for its park. The garden stretches high above the Zschopau Valley. Numerous water features and winding paths invite you to discover the grounds of this Baroque castle. [German]

Liechtenstein Castle (Burg Liechtenstein) is the ancestral seat of the ruling house of the European state Liechtenstein. The castle was destroyed during the Ottoman wars and rebuilt in the 19th century. [German]

Seeschloss Ort impresses with its location on a tiny island in the Upper Austrian Traunsee Lake. The castle became known through a TV series and the mysterious disappearance of one of its owners. Today, it houses a restaurant visitors reach by a bridge. [German]

After visiting an exhibition about tourism in the rooms of Trauttmansdorff Castle, I had a relaxed walk through the gardens. It was a great experience to see such a lush landscape of plants in a region not far from the Alps. [German]

The estate in the Vienna Woods was first mentioned in the 13th century. In 1887, the Austrian Crown Prince Rudolf converted the facility into a hunting lodge (Mayerling Castle). On January 30, 1889, Rudolf and his mistress Baroness Mary Vetsera died here under circumstances that were not completely solved. [German]

Piber Castle (Schloss Piber) is a palace in the Austrian state of Styria. It stands next to the Federal Stud Piber. The stud breeds the famous Lipizzan stallions performing at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. [German]

A chance to see the famous Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School for free is at the Stallburg building. This former residence is placed next to the Winter Riding School. Between the training and the performances, the Stallburg is the home of the white stallions.