SCHALLABURG CASTLE
Located about 5 km from Melk is the Schallaburg, one of the most beautiful Renaissance castles north of the Alps.
The Schallaburg was constructed by the Sighardinger Family in the second half of the 11th century, and named after the stream of the same name. Only under the rule of Christoph von Losenstein did the splendid expansion and remodelling of the fortification into a true castle begin.
After the sudden death of Christoph von Losenstein in 1558, his son, Hans Wilhelm, continued the work of his father, with the Schallaburg continuing to grow into the magnificent castle we know today.
Dating from this era (16th century) - and definitely worth a visit - is the two-storey, terracotta-adorned arcade, the Romanesque residential tract and the Schallaburg’s Gothic chapel.
The gardens of the Schallaburg Castle Park evince a Mannerist style. The Schallaburg’s terracotta mosaic , which consists of 1600 individual tiles, presents us with a lively depiction of creatures of fable and mythology, of gods, masks and grimacing faces.
A source of great general interest are the art-historical and archaeological exhibitions of the Schallaburg, which change from year to year and are open to the public from May until November.
