Albrechtsberg Castle stands on a forested hill about 5 kilometres east of Melk, commanding views over the Wachau landscape. The current structure is a romantic neo-Gothic rebuild from the nineteenth century, commissioned by Archduke Albrecht of Austria on the site of an older medieval fortification. It is a handsome building set in parkland, with towers and turrets that look exactly as a romantic castle should.
The castle is privately owned and access to the interior is limited, but the grounds and exterior are worth the detour if you are exploring the Melk area by car or bicycle. The wooded hillside setting and the views toward the Danube valley below make it a rewarding addition to a day that has already included the abbey and Schallaburg. The combination of three very different castles — Benedictine Baroque, Renaissance, and Romantic — gives a good overview of Austrian architectural ambition across the centuries.