Bavaria is known for its castles and palaces, but some stand out in particular. There are dreamlike fairytale castles reminiscent of Sleeping Beauty or modeled on Versailles, or record-breaking cast les such as the longest castle in the world. Close to the Austrian border, however, there is a very special castle that was built into the rock and combines a castle and a cave.
Impressive castle complex with cave castle
The castle complex is divided into three sections: The high castle, the actual cave castle and the lower castle. The High Castle is the oldest part of the castle, whose origins date back to at least the 12th century. It sits on the 50-metre-high, steeply sloping Nagelfluh wall, which forms the end of a plateau that extends to the Salzach in the east. This castle probably also served to regulate the salt trade and protect the border, as it belonged to Salzburg until 1809, while the two lower castles belonged to Bavaria.
The lower castle and the chapel were built between 1400 and 1430. The first two rooms of the cave castle were also built at this time, but the entire extension was not completed until the 16th century. It extends over two floors and connects the upper castle with the lower castle via a battlements. However, the castle was actually less suitable as a defensive structure, as it was successfully stormed twice.
In 1907, the Stein castle brewery was added to the complex, which was newly built at the time. The brewery itself has existed since 1489, but has only been part of the building complex since the beginning of the 20th century when it was rebuilt. Since 1948, the lower castle has been home to the private Schloss Stein grammar school. The cave castle is considered the most important in Germany and the best preserved in the whole of Europe!
The legend of Heinz vom Stein the Wild
There is a legend surrounding the castle that says that the feared robber baron Heinz vom Stein the Wild once ruled here. He was notorious for stealing beautiful girls and taking them to his castle. One day, he kidnapped the beautiful Waltraud and held her captive. Her lover Siegfried sneaked into the castle disguised as a groom to rescue her. At the same time, Heinz took Waldtraud’s father Gravenecker hostage and demanded her innocence as ransom.
When Gravenecker refused the shameful demand, Heinz ordered his execution. To avoid dishonor at the hands of the robber baron, Waltraud took her own life. Siegfried, who in the meantime had allowed soldiers into the castle, then stormed the cave castle. He found Heinz next to the body of his lover and stabbed him to death, but it turned out that Heinz was Siegfried’s father. Meanwhile, Gravenecker collapsed in grief at the sight of his dead daughter.
It is impossible to say how much truth there is to this legend. What is certain is that there are no official records of a Heinz who is said to have lived in the cave castle. Nevertheless, there is a separate Waldtraud room in the complex and followers of the legend believe that his ghost still haunts the castle today.
Guided tours of the Stein an der Traun cave castle
If you can’t decide whether to visit a cave or a castle on your next Sunday outing, then pay a visit to the Stein an der Traun cave castle. The guided tours of the site combine both, so you don’t have to make any compromises. Adults pay €11 for a guided tour of the impressive complex. You will be given candles and flashlights to create the right spooky atmosphere as you descend into the rock and hear the legends surrounding the castle. Explore the torture chamber, the knights’ hall and the castle’s living quarters.
If the tour of the cave castle alone is not enough, combine it with a guided tour of the Stein brewery. This is followed by a beer tasting with a panoramic view of the castle. You pay €18 per person for the combined tour. Guided tours are available from the beginning of April to the end of October, perfect for a little Halloween adventure!
From Munich, you can reach the Stein an der Traun castle complex in around 90 minutes by car. It takes an hour longer by train.