Schloss Pragstein

In one of the oldest towns in Upper Austria, there was also one of the few defensive structures in Austria built directly in the Danube. As late as 1860, a few years before the major Danube regulations, Pragstein Castle lay on a rocky island near Mauthausen, connected to the bank only by a bridge. This also explains its keel-shaped construction. The castle had to withstand several floods, and so care was taken during construction to give the floor plan a streamlined shape. Furthermore, the building has a wedge-shaped point on the west side against the current, which served as a breakwater. The four-story, rectangular building is crowned by a mighty hip roof. The roof shows a cross on the upstream western side, created by the type of shingles. Directly under the hip roof is a continuous segmental arch frieze on corbels. One of these stands out particularly. On the north side facing the bank is the large iron-clad gate with a manhole, above it a flat oriel window on stepped consoles on the 2nd floor. On the opposite river side there was a sally port, which no longer exists. Above it, the stone coat of arms of the Barons of Prag is still preserved today. In the lower floors, the windows and light openings are rather simple. In contrast, in the upper two floors, the window frames from the time of construction are richly profiled. The entire building features strong corner quoins. Inside, Gothic architectural elements dominate, barrel vaults with Renaissance stucco frames from around 1600. The castle is entered through the market-side gate with a manhole. Directly behind the gate is a small vaulted vestibule supported by stone columns. Here below, in addition to some cellar rooms, is also the usable horse stable. The upper floors are reached via a relatively simple staircase. On each floor, the staircase opens into a hall-like central corridor. From this corridor, one enters the large rooms, some with beautiful wooden plank ceilings. On the second upper floor, in the corridor vaulted with lunettes, the cut-off remains of a star rib vault have been preserved. A chapel with a polygonal apse was probably once located here. Highway exit Enns or St. Valentin - direction Mauthausen - approx. 8 kilometers