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Tag: Austria

Hotel Schloss Dürnstein: The Most Beautiful Danube Panorama In Austria

Written by Nina Zeller on . No Comments on Hotel Schloss Dürnstein: The Most Beautiful Danube Panorama In Austria

Anyone who likes waterfront accommodation will love Hotel Schloss Dürnstein just outside Vienna. The only five-star hotel in the Wachau and Lower Austria delights guests with its box seat on the Danube as well as its history. Hotel Schloss Dürnstein is located in the small town of Dürnstein of the same name. The baroque building is one of the most traditional houses in the country. Guests can take a seat on antique armchairs in the library, explore the thick walls of the centuries-old wine cellar and spend the night under time-honored chandeliers. The 46 modernized rooms and suites are all individually furnished by the owners, the Thiery family, and are as exclusive as they are charming. Tip: The newly renovated suite number 8 offers plenty of comfort on two floors and a balcony with an unobstructed view of the Danube! Wellbeing concept at Hotel Schloss Dürnstein Calmer waters can be found in the hotel’s pretty inner courtyard in the form of an outdoor pool with a magnificent view of the ruins of Dürnstein Fortress, where Richard the Lionheart was once held prisoner. If the weather doesn’t play ball, the heated indoor pool in the spa area invites you to take a dip. Two saunas and an infrared cabin round off the wellness offer. Another important part of the wellbeing concept at Hotel Schloss Dürnstein: the cuisine. The talented Austrian Nadine Stangl has been in charge of the hotel’s kitchen since the beginning of 2024 and conjures up delicious dishes with a Caribbean twist at award-winning level. Be sure to try it: The homemade pasta with lobster and the tartare from the original carrot! You should definitely enjoy your dinner on the hotel terrace – it is considered the most beautiful on the Danube. Thanks to the adjustable panoramic windows, you can sit there even in bad weather and lose yourself in the view of the flowing waters of the (not always blue) Danube. Wonderful! Excursion in the hotel’s own boat The Wachau, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is not only known for its enchanting landscape, but also for its excellent wines. Klaus, the sommelier, and his colleague Christina at Hotel Schloss Dürnstein serve these wines as competently as they do cordially. In addition to the terrace, the castle’s spacious wine cellar is also a good choice, as is one of the hotel’s own boats, which even allow tasting on the water when the weather is fine – fantastic!… weiterlesen

Vacation in a Historic Austrian Castle

Written by Margit Rüdiger on . No Comments on Vacation in a Historic Austrian Castle

Dürnstein Castle was built in 1630 and converted into a five-star hotel with charm. Its location: In the heart of the Wachau with the most beautiful view of the Danube. The Wachau at the gates of Vienna is one of the most beautiful river landscapes in the world. And the Hotel Schloss Dürnstein (Schloss means castle in English) is in her heart. It is a magical place with a long history. Want to hear a little history? The building was built between 1622 and 1630 by Christoph Wilhelm von Zelking. The architect Cypriano Biasino from Krems took on the planning of the original square courtyard. In 1663 the property was sold to Conrad Baltasar, Count von Starhemberg. It remained in the family’s possession until 1937, when Raimund Thiery acquired the unique historic complex. It was also he who began the renovation into a hotel. It was finally completed by his son Johann and his wife Rosemarie. But it wasn’t until the early 1970s that Raimund Thiery opened the castle gates to guests for the first time. The Hotel Schloss Dürnstein is now run by the third generation of the Thiery family. It was one of the first members of the Relais & Chateaux association outside of France. Tastefully furnished by the landlady The castle has 47 rooms. Each one is furnished with precious antiques and exudes luxury and individuality. Old ceramic stoves have been restored down to the last detail, the furnishings – whether Biedermeier or Louis-seize – have been lovingly put together by Rosemarie Thiery, mother of the current hotel manager Christian. She sewed many curtains herself because the right ones weren’t available “off the shelf“. The rooms have a wonderful view of the Dürnstein ruins, the picturesque town of Dürnstein and the river Danube. In addition to the main house, there is a 6 person villa with three bedrooms and three holiday apartments for 4 people each with a sauna and a plunge pool in the garden. Two minutes’ walk from the castle, the barbeque restaurant “Küffer Keller” invites you with a swimming pond and lounge pavilion in the romantic garden landscape. There is space for 35-40 people. And there is also a cellar parlor including a vinotheque if the weather doesn’t cooperate. The rich and the beautiful Schloss Dürnstein’s guest book reads like a who’s who of celebrities from politics, business, society and the nobility. In addition to the dedications from tenor José Carreras and painter Ernst Fuchs, politicians such as former German Chancellor Walter Scheel and Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, former President of France, and Ronald Reagan’s Finance Minister George Pratt Shultz (stuck a one dollar bill in the guest book next to his name) have immortalized themselves to crowned heads like the Japanese Emperor Akihito, Prince Henrik of Denmark or the King of Thailand.… weiterlesen