Trautenfels Castle (Schloss Trautenfels)

The basics

The castle’s 13 themed rooms showcase the natural and cultural history of the Enns Valley, Palten Valley, and Aussee Lake District. One room focuses on the area’s indigenous forests and the history of lumberjacking, while others explore the natural landscape of the surrounding valley and its agricultural past. Additional rooms show off items ranging from mining tools to sets of inlaid antlers.

You can also see the elaborately furnished State Rooms, and climb the castle’s watchtower for superb views of the entire valley.

Things to know before you go

• The castle sits at the foot of Grimming Mountain, a popular spot for trail walking and hiking. Pair an excursion to the peak with a museum visit for a well-rounded day trip.

• Purchase a 24-hour or 48-hour pass to visit Trautenfels Castle along with any of the otherJoanneum member museums.

• Kids visit for free, making this a budget-friendly stop for traveling families.

• The castle interiors are fully accessible, and wheelchairs can be rented at the entrance.

How to get there

The castle sits just southwest of Steinach at the intersection of the two main area highways (E651 and 145) and so is easiest to reach by car. There are local bus routes that link the castle to Steinach and Liezen; long-haul buses connect these towns with Linz to the north and Vienna to the east.

When to get there

Trautenfels Castle is open daily from April through October, and closes each winter. In addition to the permanent collection, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions (generally one per season); check the website for updated information about the current museum calendar. The exhibition halls are all indoors, so the castle is an ideal excursion for a rainy day.

Visiting Austria’s Universalmuseum Joanneum

Believed to be the largest of its kind in central Europe, the Universalmuseum Joanneum is a vast collection spread across 20 different locations (including 14 historic landmark buildings) in Styria. The exhibitions focus on science, art, and culture and encompass a range of sites, including an armory, castles, a sculpture park, and a zoo. You can purchase tickets for each location or one- and two-day passes that include admission to all the collections and exhibitions.