Rauheneck Castle was built in the 12th century, on cliffs of a foothill on the Lindkogels banks of the Schwechat. In its eventful history, Rauheneck Castle was destroyed several times. In 1477 Mattias Corvinus, the King of Hungary, conquered the castle. It was finally destroyed by Ottomans in 1529. In 1961, the city of Baden bought the castle hill and the ruin.
The castle ruins can be walked on and visited in peace and quiet: from their weather-beaten rooms to the chapel. The 25 m high main tower must be climbed over steep stairs. As a reward beckons the great view over the Helenental and of the opposite-facingBurg Rauhenstein. . For the light-hearted fans: According to the legend, the builder of the tower still haunts Rauheneck today - as a spirit unredeemed for all eternity.
The Rauheneck castle ruins are easy to hike - right uphill on easy forest routes. A particularly useful tip is the cultural hiking trail through the Helenental: As a detour along the way, you can tag after Rauheneck - shortly after starting off in Baden.
References:The Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means 'castle of the counts' in Dutch. Arnulf I (918–965), Count of Flanders, was the first to fortify this place, building a medieval bastion on this high sand dune, naturally protected by the river Leie and its marshy banks. This bastion consisted of a central wooden building and several surrounding buildings, also in wood.
In the early 11th century, the wooden building was replaced by a stone residence, consisting of three large halls that made up three storeys, connected by a stone stairwell. The monumental stone staircase, the light openings, the fireplaces built into the walls and the latrines were signs of considerable luxury and comfort in those days. There was probably also a tower.