Wachau
World Heritage Site
The striking appearance of the castle town of Dürnstein in the Wachau World Heritage Site has impressed not only kings and princes but also ordinary people since the early Middle Ages.
The History of Dürnstein
With its picturesque alleyways, the imposing ruins of Dürnstein Castle and its unique setting on the Danube, Dürnstein is a truly fascinating destination. The history and beauty of this town attract visitors from all over the world and allow them to immerse themselves in times gone by.
Evidence of medieval life can be seen in the castle towering high above the Danube, the town with its monastic complexes, and the fortifications winding their way through the rugged terrain. The Baroque renovation of the Augustinian monastery under the supervision of Provost Hieronymus Übelbacher, along with other modern construction projects, radically altered the appearance of the most important town of the Kuenring dynasty. Furthermore, these developments subsequently influenced the history of the Hotel Richard Löwenherz.
700 years of history
Once a Poor Clare convent, it was initially run as an inn in 1880, before being converted into a hotel in 1938.
The history of our hotel
In 1289, the powerful Leuthold I of Kuenring founded the House of Hager and the Schenking estate in the south-eastern part of Dürnstein for the Poor Clare convent he had established. The high Gothic two-nave church was most likely completed in 1340, where Franciscan friars from Stein provided the devout nuns with the sacraments. Donations from the sovereign, the Kuenring family and relatives of the nuns helped the foundation flourish quickly. However, the Reformation and war contributions had a negative impact, and the convent was dissolved around 1570.
The property then became part of the Augustinian Canons' Monastery located in the centre of the small town. Under Provost Hieronymus Übelbacher (1710–1740), the monastery found an exceptional renovator. He intended to redesign his church entirely in the spirit of the new style, sacrificing some valuable historic elements in the process. The large cellar in front of the Kremser Gate was expanded, the Poor Clare church was stripped of its sacred decorations, the roof turret and the high church roof were removed, and the Gothic windows were bricked up. Thus, the former two-nave Gothic church was transformed into a granary.
Through the trade of wine and grain, Provost Übelbacher financed the construction and renovation of his monastery. The cloister of the Poor Clare convent was also demolished, and the former convent rooms were converted for economic purposes. In 1798, the Augustinian Canons' Monastery was dissolved and the buildings were transferred to Herzogenburg Abbey. In 1820, the property of the former Poor Clare convent finally passed into private ownership.
Since 1880, the spacious rooms of this historic building have been managed by the Thiery family, who transformed the former inn for boatmen into a hotel and restaurant of international reputation. The establishment was named after the former English King Richard the Lionheart, who was held captive in Dürnstein from 1192 to 1193. In 1938, the former Starhemberg Castle located to the west was added to the original building. Together with the historic main house, it was adapted to meet modern standards while preserving its unique charm, magnificent views and peaceful atmosphere.
The Hotel Restaurant “Richard Löwenherz”, formerly known as the “Gasthof zum Richard Löwenherz”, is now managed by the Thiery family in its fourth generation, with the fifth generation already preparing to continue the legacy of this historic house. Only a few years remain until the family celebrates 150 years of hospitality.
The present-day Castle Hotel was initially operated as a branch of the original establishment. Over many years, the Thiery family developed and expanded the business continuously. At the end of the 1960s, the castle became an independent hotel and has since formed a unique ensemble together with the historic main building – combining history, hospitality and culture.
To this day, the house stands for living tradition, genuine personal hospitality and the harmonious combination of historic architecture with modern comfort – right in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Wachau.
