Description of the attraction
The first owners of the almost impregnable fortress Hinterhaus, which now lies in ruins and is a popular tourist attraction, were the Kenringerns, who also owned the Dürnstein Castle, another famous local landmark. Hinterhaus Castle, which was first mentioned in the chronicles in 1243, was actually built much earlier - one part of it, the central, most ancient, appeared in the 12th century. The castle occupies a strategically important position - it is located on the rocky ridge of the Aerling spur, above the town of Spitz. The Hinterhaus fortress consists of three independent parts. The lower castle is located in the north-east of the main palace, which is located in the center - on a stone rock. Another fortification can be seen in the southwest.
The fortress walls and one of the castle towers, which you can climb, have survived to this day. The ruins of the Hinterhaus fortress remain abandoned, the state does not restore them and, accordingly, does not control them, so the entrance to their territory is free. Every tourist who climbs from the town of Spiez to the ruins of the Hinterhaus Castle, and the way up takes about 15 minutes, should understand that staying in the ruins can be unsafe. From the top of the Hinterhaus tower, a splendid panorama of the Danube and vineyards stretching along the banks opens up.
Like any solid castle, Hinterhouse has its own ghost. This is the ghost of the wife of one of the owners of the castle - Heinrich Iron von Kenringern. When his wife died, he, unable to withstand the prescribed mourning period, married another lady. Since then, on the night of Henry's death, the spirit of his first wife can be seen in the windows of the fortress.
