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:''This article discusses the village of 'Dürnstein in der Wachau' (Dürnstein in the Wachau). There is also a Dürnstein in der Steiermark (Dürnstein in Styria)''
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'Dürnstein' is a town in the Wachau in Lower Austria.

Contents

Subdivisions

History

Subdivisions

In the land register, Dürnstein is subdivided into the Katastralgemeinden of Dürnstein, Oberloiben and Unterloiben.

History

In the castle above the town, King Richard the Lion-Hearted of England was held captive by Duke Leopold V after their dispute during the Third Crusade in 1193. The castle was almost completely destroyed by the Swedes in 1645. The Battle of Dürenstein was fought nearby in 1805.
The castle was originally called "Duerrstein" or "Dürrstein." Duerr (Dürr) = "dry" and Stein = "stone." The Dry-Stone Castle was "dry" because it was situated on a rocky hill, high above the "damp" conditions of the Danube River at the base of the hill, and it was, of course, constructed from stone(s).