Pöggstall Castle

North of the left bank of the Danube, between the Melk and Ybbs exits, lies the tranquil-looking village of Pöggstall. The centrepiece is a castle that looks as if it has been transported here from the Italian Renaissance. In its beginnings it was an early Gothic moated castle from the 13th century.

In front of the actual palace building is the "Barbican" (formerly called 'Rondell'), a circular building around an inner courtyard, built according to a design by Albrecht Dürer. It is probably the only case that this design was actually executed. The inner courtyard of the palace itself is pure Renaissance.

Worth seeing are the remarkable stone spiral staircase, a Renaissance portal, the Renaissance arcaded inner courtyard, the Emperor's Hall and the Gothic Hall.

In the castle "the meeting heart of the region", numerous rooms and banqueting halls can be rented for private celebrations, weddings and events. Exhibitions/ museum in the castle:

Franz Traunfellner Documentation
Franz Traunfellner (1913-1986) lived as a painter and graphic artist in Gerersdorf near Pöggstall. The landscape of the southern Waldviertel dominates his more than thousand works - graphics in a wide variety of techniques, but also watercolours and oil paintings, fields, trees, farmsteads and, last but not least, people he depicted in his clear and vivid formal language.

Museum for Legal History with Torture Chamber
Since the 2017 Provincial Exhibition, Pöggstall Castle has been the permanent exhibition location for the holdings of the Provincial Collections of Lower Austria with the "Museum of Legal History" and invites its visitors to engage with the topic of jurisprudence with a new scientific concept and educational programme.

Torture chamber - In the torture tower of Pöggstall Castle you will find Austria's only torture chamber preserved in its original state as a testimony to past jurisdiction - instruments of torture.

OPENING HOURS (1 April to 31 October 2023) 
every Tuesday to Sunday, as well as public holidays from 09.00 - 17.00 (admission end: 16:00) Guided tours (cultural mediations) at 10.30 and 14.30 - currently by appointment only.

We ask for your understanding that at present cultural events can only be arranged by telephone at least 48 hours in advance on +43 680 3325747. The museum box office is available by telephone from Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.

"Pöggstall Castle - between the region and the imperial court".
This exhibition in the Brbakane (roundabout) is dedicated to the sensational findings that came to light during the general renovation in the course of the Lower Austrian Provincial Exhibition 2017 - the entire newly discovered building history - from the beginning of the construction to the conversions and extensions of the respective owners.

Public arrival and departure

Bus/Train
From Melk railway station you can take bus 790 to the stop "Hauptplatz Pöggstall". From there it is a 2-minute walk to the castle.
Taxi
Hader Gerhard Taxi: 02758/33 00
Taxi Johann Moser: 0676/760 11 00
Bicycle
You can rent a bicycle directly at the castle.