The Haichenbach hilltop castle is located at an altitude of 450 meters above sea level on the ridge that forms the so-called Schlögener Schlinge on the Danube.
The first documented mention of Haichenbach dates back to 1160. At that time, Otto and Wernher de Eichenbach are mentioned as representatives of the ministerial noble family that derived its name from the castle. In 1273, the castle must have burned down for unknown reasons, as Rueger von Haichenbach documented in Schlägl in 1274 that he allowed the use of his forests in exchange for accommodation in the monastery hospital, during the time Haichenbach was being rebuilt.
After 1529 Haichenbach Castle was abandoned. Since 1984, restoration measures have been undertaken by the Working Committee for Homeland Care Hofkirchen; the castle ruins can now be safely visited.
The Jacques Cartier Manor House is the only existing property wich belonged to Cartier, the discoverer of Canada, in 1534. It’s a rare example of a great 16th century explorer’s home. Jacques Cartier opened up the North American continent to the French via the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The manor house has been restored and furnished to illustrate both the everyday life and the travels of its famous owner. From the kitchen with its red clay floor, to the explorer’s bedroom, this museum has lost none of its period charm.