User Reviews
Burgschleinitz, one of the most romantic places in the area, is one of the last water castles in Waldviertel. Situated by an idyllic pond, surrounded by a deep moat, its massive castle wall stands tall. The castle's history dates back to the 11th century when it was the ancestral seat of the Schleunz family, eventually giving rise to the name 'Burgschleinitz.' Over the years, it changed owners frequently, including a brief period under the Habsburgs in the 14th century.
In 1480, the castle was attacked by Hussite troops and completely destroyed in the ensuing battle with the imperial army. A century later, Georg Bayer von Niederdürnbach began its reconstruction, leaving his mark on the second-floor barrel vault. However, he and his brother later committed suicide, leading to the property falling into the hands of Rudolph von Innspruckh. Ownership continued to change due to political unrest and unpaid taxes.
In the early 17th century, during the Thirty Years' War, Burgschleinitz suffered further damage from Bohemian troops. The Kuefstein Counts eventually occupied the castle, only to be succeeded by the Sazenhofen Barons after more than 300 years. Throughout its history, Burgschleinitz has been a source of inspiration for artists, especially writers, including Franz Grillparzer.
In 1974, the castle's moat, running beneath its walls, was refilled to restore its watery character. Today, it is privately owned and cared for by the Eckert family, including the actress Andrea Eckert.
The Pilgrimage Church of Wies (Wieskirche) is an oval rococo church, designed in the late 1740s by Dominikus Zimmermann. It is located in the foothills of the Alps in the municipality of Steingaden.
The sanctuary of Wies is a pilgrimage church extraordinarily well-preserved in the beautiful setting of an Alpine valley, and is a perfect masterpiece of Rococo art and creative genius, as well as an exceptional testimony to a civilization that has disappeared.
The hamlet of Wies, in 1738, is said to have been the setting of a miracle in which tears were seen on a simple wooden figure of Christ mounted on a column that was no longer venerated by the Premonstratensian monks of the Abbey. A wooden chapel constructed in the fields housed the miraculous statue for some time. However, pilgrims from Germany, Austria, Bohemia, and even Italy became so numerous that the Abbot of the Premonstratensians of Steingaden decided to construct a splendid sanctuary.