CHÂTEAU DE ROSENBURG

It is one of Austria's best-preserved and most visited Renaissance castles. It rises majestically and impressively from a cliff above the valley of the River Kamp. First mentioned in 1175, this prestigious edifice was rebuilt in its current Renaissance style between 1593 and 1597. Visit the magnificently preserved ceremonial rooms and luxurious apartments. There's a vast collection of weapons and artefacts from the ^15th to ^18th centuries, exhibition rooms and a falconry museum. The immense tournament courtyard and pleasure gardens, with their magnificent rose gardens and romantic pathways, are also worth a visit. The Renaissance falconry of Rosenburg Castle, in perfect working order, is a rarity. Visitors can discover the ancient art of falconry, the art of hunting with the help of a falcon. The public is treated to demonstrations of birds of prey and even horse falconry, a discipline rarely presented. Rosenburg's falconers have also developed their own falcon breeding program, helping to preserve an ancestral art as well as the species. Today, Rosenburg Castle is a popular tourist destination in more ways than one. It provides a unique setting for weddings, conferences, celebrations, festivals and events of all kinds. Weddings, children's birthdays and other family events, and even seminars can be scheduled here. Last but not least, there's a tavern and a hotel, so you can even consider staying on site to enjoy the surroundings.

Every year since 2014, from mid-June to early August, the castle has hosted the Sommernachtskomödie Rosenburg, an evening theater festival based around the staging of a comedy. This festival has taken the place of another festival dedicated to the works of Shakespeare. A must in the cultural life of the Waldviertel.

Another annual event is the Gala der falknerei (Falconry Gala) on August 15, a day when falconers in period costume demonstrate their talent and that of their falcons, with a host of activities on the castle's panoramic forecourt. The show takes you back to the Middle Ages, inspired by Emperor Frederick II, one of the greatest patrons of falconry. Knights, falconers, falcons, dogs and horses enliven a magnificently staged show. It's a day out for the whole family that's sure to ignite a passion for falconry.