Schiltern Castle

Where a world of model trains made history – a paradise for young and old

Nestled away in the Kamp Valley and Manhartsberg region, Schiltern Castle (German: Schloss Schiltern) invites you to take an excursion of a special kind: The first upper floor of the former farm house has a surprise in store for the whole family: an interactive model railroad covering an area of 300 m2. For a different kind of journey, explore the Therapy Garden or the ARCHE NOAH show garden. All aboard – who will be riding along?

From farm house to castle

Who would have thought that a small farmhouse would become a “Castle of the Future”? The farmstead the Lords of Schiltarn established in the 10th c was first used by various Lords of the Castle of Kronsegg. It was not until the 16th c that the medieval farmhouse was enlarged to create a castle and a new manorial residence. After an eventful succession of owners, Count Aichelberg-Ruhmerskirch sold the castle to the municipality of Langenlois in 1929. Just a year later, the English Ladies received the property and this order of Roman Catholic nuns has operated educational institutions for children there ever since. These teaching activities were interrupted in World War II when the castle came into the possession of the SA. In 1987, Psychosoziale Zentrum Schiltern GmbH renovated the building complex with the assistance of the State of Lower Austria and has offered the ideal setting for on-site psychotherapeutic rehabilitation there since then.

Cultural treasure of the region

Simple elegance protected as a historic landmark: Schiltern Castle has Baron Christoph Leysser to thank for its current form as a three-wing complex with four round towers. The coat-of-arms of the Aichelburg family from the 19th c is affixed to the portal, with decorative stucco garlands climbing the wall above it. The year 1636 on the sundial calls to mind the year the structure was completed. The coats-of-arm of later lords of the castle can be found everywhere. It was not until the second half of the 20th c that frescoes in the style of Johann Leopold Daysinger from around 1760 were discovered in the chapel. Since the time the property was briefly owned by the municipality of Langenlois, the magnificent Marian fountain and the 12 statues from the castle park have stood in town, the fountain on Holzplatz and the statues in Josefspark. The “Bernalter Kasten”, a cabinet from 1680 with the coats-of-arms of Baron of Hackelberg-Landau and his wife Maria Magdalena of Weidling, can be admired in the local museum in Langenlois.

A railroad buff’s dream on a scale of 1:87

Spectacular scenery and cultural sights in Austria authentically replicated: in the Model Railroad World in Schiltern, hundreds of trains and cars and thousands of figurines transform the 300 m² model railroad system into a unique, interactive experience. The model brings to life St. Pölten, the Prater Park in Vienna, street cars and subways, fire trucks, buses, cranes and much more. Simulations of daytime/nighttime are included. On closer examination, you will find many details with their own exciting stories to tell. It feels like you are taking off on a trip yourself here.

Growing perspectives

The artistically designed Therapy Garden beckons visitors to explore the Festival Circle of the Four Elements, the Growth Garden and the Motor Skills Trail. The Baroque-style Arche Noah castle garden combines the old with the new – plants that nearly vanished have been brought back to life here and thrive once again. The ancient walls encompassing this space and the garden pavilion create a lovely atmosphere. Has all this exploration whet your appetite? Take a break in the castle café!