Description of the attraction
Schallaburg Castle is located in the Wachau Valley, 5 km from Melk, in Lower Austria. Lower Austria is the land of fortresses and castles. No other region in the country has so many ancient fortresses and magnificent castles of past centuries.
The central part of the castle was built in the Middle Ages, in 1572. The castle gained its distinctive appearance when the prosperous Losenstein dynasty created a manor for themselves, modeled on Italian palazzo, but at the same time the emphasis was placed on the impressive silhouette of the castle, which can be seen from afar to this day.
The generous tournament courtyard, staircases and unique decorative sculptures testify to the prosperity of the owners and their love for art. The mosaic decoration, numbering 1,600 individual tiles, depicts vivid scenes of mythological characters, gods and fairy-tale creatures, all created in a very believable way. One of the figures is the "Hundefräulein" (a female human figure with a dog's head), a typical character in local legends. At the gate leading to the castle are two large dragons, 30 meters long and 6 meters high each, which are a favorite entertainment spot for children.
The rich historical interiors of Schallaburg Castle are the ideal setting for annual exhibitions on cultural history, ethnography, modern history. In 2012, the castle will host an exhibition of Byzantine culture and the Orient with many treasures, and in 2013, visitors will be able to discover the world of the legendary Indian Maharaja.
A few steps from the castle, there is a wonderful park, made in the style of Renaissance gardens. A green oasis with an area of more than 6,500 square meters with fruit trees and flowers designed for the whole family to relax in the fresh air.
