The ruined castle above Dürnstein village — Kuenringerburg — stands on a 160-metre limestone bluff above the Danube and was the seat of the Kuenringer family, lords of the Wachau in the 12th century. Duke Leopold V of Austria held Richard the Lionheart prisoner here from December 1192 to March 1193, and the ruins are still visited primarily for this association rather than the architecture, which is not exceptional.
The walk up from the village takes about 30 minutes on a marked path; the surface is rocky and uneven, and the climb is steep. The views from the top — over the river bend below, the terraced vineyards, and the village with its blue church tower — are excellent and worth the effort. There is no entrance fee; the ruins are freely accessible. Come in the morning for the best light on the river.