Beautiful to paint
Dürnstein was already considered "picturesque" from around 1880. The most famous painters of their time captured the exquisite views and the special "Wachau light" here on canvas. The locals - who were very keen tourists - thanked them with board and lodging and, of course, plenty of wine.
The monastery with its magnificent baroque church and characteristic tower is probably the most painted and most photographed motif in Dürnstein today. The medieval flair of the small town, on the other hand, is characterized by the ruins, once the castle of the Kuenringers and the involuntary residence of Richard the Lionheart. Picturesque town houses and a pillory square round off the unique ambience. Just as ancient as it looks is the Kunigundenkirche church right here by the cemetery: built around 1200 with a Romanesque dome, it is the oldest church in Dürnstein.
Would you have guessed it?
The Kunigundenkirche is named after an empress: the wife of the Ottonian Emperor Henry II. The last service in the church took place in 1742. After the church was demolished around 1800, the tower and the sacristy remained - a source of comfort for painters and photographers.
