Castles - Overview - Castle Road - Steiermark, Burgenland, Austria

Castles - Overview

From manor and lordship to region and relaxation

The "Castle Road" connects castles and palaces, which are much more than just dots on a map. Each of them holds within its walls a great secret – that of time. This area of southeastern Austria and Slovenia is home to one of Europe’s highest concentrations of castles and palaces. All of these noble houses are living witnesses to great epochs. Garden and enjoyment, cuisine and cellar, exercise and cosiness, courtyard and artisanry. And hardly anyone knows the region better, than those, who have the common goal, carrying traditions into the modern age.

History that bridges borders

The new anthology Castles, Palaces and Monasteries between the Orient and the Occident invites readers on a fascinating journey through the Danube-Alps-Adriatic region. Engaging academic essays explore historical borders, cultural encounters and impressive architectural monuments that keep our shared history alive to this day.
This trilingual publication, in German, Slovenian and English, impressively demonstrates just how closely the regions of Europe are interconnected.
A special book for anyone who loves castles, palaces, monasteries and Europe’s eventful history!

New Adventure Quest at Rotenturm Castle

Solve tricky puzzles, discover hidden clues and work together to find the secret treasure – an exciting new adventure quest now awaits puzzle fans of all ages at Rotenturm Castle.

Whether as a team-building activity, group outing or leisure experience, the treasure hunt leads through the castle park and the publicly accessible areas of the castle. With two difficulty levels, it offers exciting challenges for adults and young people aged 10 and over, combining fun and adventure with the opportunity to discover the historic castle.

A special experience for everyone who loves adventure, teamwork and puzzles. Further information and booking options are available directly from Rotenturm Castle.

Walking Together for Peace

8,500 kilometres. 19 countries. Thousands of people. One shared goal: to make peace visible.

The international Peace Walk 2026 stretches from Spain to Jerusalem/Al-Quds, bringing together people, cultures, and stories on a shared journey towards peace, understanding, and connection.

The Burgenland will also become part of this movement:

The Peace Walk Burgenland is being created as a connecting route running from south to north along existing hiking trails of the Castle Road (Schlösserstraße). The route will ultimately join the Jerusalem Way – the world’s longest peace trail – in Neusiedl am See.

For us as the Castle Road, this is much more than a hiking trail:

The Peace Walk makes visible what we stand for.

🏰 Once, castles were places of defence.
🌍 Today, they become places of encounter and dialogue.

Entirely in line with our motto:

"From Fortress to Bridge.”

The Peace Walk will stop at four members of the Castle Road:

📍 Schloss Tabor | June 20, 2026
📍 Burg Güssing | June 21, 2026
📍 Friedensburg Schlaining | July 11, 2026
📍 Burg Bernstein | July 11, 2026

A special moment awaits participants on July 11 at Friedensburg Schlaining:
There, the Chairman of the Castle Road, Andreas Bardeau, together with Johannes Aschauer, will personally welcome the walkers.

Whether for an hour, a day, or an entire stage of the route – everyone is invited to become part of this movement.

👉 Registration and further information: www.pilgernbewegt.at
📩 Please register no later than 10 days before the respective event date.

Great joy along the Castle Road

The fascinating route through the world of castles, palaces and historic towns has been nominated for the 2026 Tourism Stars award by Very Media Ges.m.b.H in the category Cultural Heritage Ambassador of the Year. This makes the cross-border cultural and adventure route one of the country's outstanding tourism projects.

The nomination recognises the commitment of the partners of the Castle Road, who work together to combine culture, history and experience. The Castle Road stands for discovery, wonder and inspiring encounters with the past.

With its nomination for the Tourism Stars, this special network is now also visible at national level – as an invitation to experience the Castle Road for yourself.

More information about the nomination and the Tourism Stars can be found here:
https://tourismusstars.at/tourismus_nominee/die-schlosserstrasse-castle-road/

A place that moves you: Museum of Madness nominated for European Museum Prize

A special award for an extraordinary cultural project: the Museum of Madness in Cmurek Castle in Trate has been nominated for the prestigious European Museum Prize of the Year. This puts the museum among those in Europe that impress with innovative concepts and social relevance.

The museum is dedicated to the moving history of psychiatry and commemorates people who once lived in psychiatric institutions. It is not only about historical reappraisal, but also about central issues in our society: exclusion, human dignity and dealing with mental illness. Supported by a dedicated team of activists and experts, the museum sees itself as a place of remembrance, education and dialogue. Visitors gain insights into the past of psychiatric institutions and are invited to reflect on social responsibility and humanity.

The nomination for the European Museum Prize is considered a significant recognition throughout Europe for museums with special ideas and courageous perspectives. For the Museum of Madness, it is a strong sign that its commitment to remembrance, education and humanity is being recognised internationally.

Further information at:
https://europeanforum.museum/news/emya2026-nominees-are-now-announced

Castle Road represented at European Cultural Forum in Cappadocia

Castle Road was prominently represented at the 14th Advisory Forum on Cultural Routes, organized by the Council of Europe and held in Cappadocia (Turkey). Honorary Consul Mag. Andreas Bardeau, Chair of Castle Road, and Nina Peischl, Project Manager of the EU project Castle Road 2.0 for Burgenland, participated in the three-day conference and used the opportunity for an intensive exchange with representatives of other European cultural routes.

"The encounters and conversations with other cultural routes were extremely inspiring and motivating,” says Nina Peischl. "Our shared goal is to achieve certification of Castle Road as an official Cultural Route of the Council of Europe – an important step towards increasing the international visibility of our historic sites.”

Mag. Bardeau also emphasized the importance of European cooperation:
"Our region holds an exceptional cultural heritage. Recognition by the Council of Europe would be a strong signal that we are jointly preserving this heritage across borders and making it accessible to the public.”

With more than 40 members and growing interest from Croatia and Hungary, Castle Road continues to develop into a significant European cultural axis. Further steps are already planned – including a scientific conference in 2027 in Burgenland, where young people are expected to play a stronger role in raising awareness of shared cultural heritage.

2nd Specialist Conference of the Castle Road 2.0 Project

Cultural heritage in a transitional zone of Europe – castles, palaces, and monasteries in the Danube-Alps-Adriatic region
The Castle Road invites you to the 2nd international specialist conference of the Castle Road 2.0 project. This event will feature academic presentations on research into the rich architectural, functional, material, and intellectual heritage of the Danube-Alps-Adriatic region. The focus will be on the castles, palaces, and monasteries of this region, which illustrate in a special way the cultural diversity and historical significance of the border area between Austria and Slovenia.

The conference will take place on October 17 and 18, 2025, at the Zehnerhaus Bad Radkersburg. Participation is free of charge, but we kindly ask you to register by Monday, October 13, 2025, at the latest.

To the online registration form: https://forms.gle/9huNwsDi4SUtJMja6

Simultaneous interpretation will be provided during the conference.

Joint workshops

The Castle Road builds bridges across geographical, historical and cultural boundaries. The association promotes the uniqueness of its members through tolerance and integration. In joint workshops and webinars, possibilities for three-dimensional cultural mediation were developed. Best practice examples at partner companies were used to formulate measures for further development steps: Castle of Kornberg

Cultural offer folder for tour operator & tourism agencies

The mission is to make history tangible. The responsibility to preserve cultural heritage and to present it for tourism is visible in the joint cultural offer folder. 74 inspiring cultural experiences as a limitless quality offer represent a guideline for unforgettable cultural trips along Schlösserstraße and enable tailor-made travel planning. We would be happy to support you. You can download the cultural offer folder here.

Experience the Castleroad

To the west of the city of Graz, Piber Castle is a good entry point for driving on Schlösserstraße. The entire route meanders through six tourist regions and can be experienced in stages if you stay longer. Whether touring with a vintage car, e-car, bicycle or approaching the palaces, castles, monasteries and historical fortifications on foot, it is a journey through almost 1000 years of shared history. Link to route: https://out.ac/KmOXG

Next Events

20. Aug. 2026 14.00h-15.30h Garten Castle Herberstein

‘Knight Schlotternicht’ holiday programme in Herberstein

22. Aug. 2026 16.00h Rotenturm Castle

Castle Tour at Castle Rotenturm

26. Aug. 2026 18.30h Fürstenfeld Castle

Of human toil and Baroque joie de vivre

28. Aug. 2026 Riegersburg Castle

full Moon night

29. Aug. 2026 18.00h Kornberg Castle

Knight's dinner

29. Aug. 2026 19.30h Lockenhaus Castle