Schattenburg Castle
Medieval hilltop castle housing Feldkirch historical museum
Medieval castle above Feldkirch housing a regional museum and tower walks; visitors tour exhibits, sample local history and take views across the Rhine valley.
Schattenburg at a Glance#
Address: Schattenburg 1, 6800 Feldkirch, Austria
Website: https://www.schattenburg.at/
Hours: Apr-Oct daily 9am-5pm, Nov-Mar Sat-Sun 10am-4pm (museum hours vary in winter)
Admission: €6 (~$6.50) adult admission to the museum (approx.)
About Schattenburg#
Schattenburg is a medieval hilltop castle overlooking the old town of Feldkirch in Vorarlberg, Austria. It is the town’s dominant landmark and dates back to the high Middle Ages.
The site contains ramparts, a keep and inner courtyards that visitors can walk around. Exhibitions interpret local and regional history and the tower area provides elevated views over the town and the Rhine valley.
The castle was constructed by the regional ruling family in the medieval period and served as a fortified residence and administrative centre. Ownership and use changed over the centuries and the complex now belongs to the town and is maintained as a historic site and museum.
Schattenburg sits immediately above Feldkirch’s old town centre in western Austria, close to the borders with Liechtenstein and Switzerland. The castle is reached on foot from the town centre by short steep paths and streets.
- Museum: The museum presents municipal and regional history collections within the castle buildings.
What to See#
- Keep and battlements: The defensive tower and battlements occupy the highest point of the site and provide a compact sequence of rooms and walls that date to the medieval period; the tower offers views over Feldkirch and the surrounding Rhine valley.
- Schattenburg Museum: A municipal museum housed in the castle presents local history and artefacts from Feldkirch and the surrounding region, with exhibition rooms arranged in the former castle buildings.
How to Get to Schattenburg#
Schattenburg stands above the center of Feldkirch. It’s an easy 5-10 minute walk uphill from Feldkirch’s train station (Feldkirch Bahnhof). The castle is well signed from the town center and there is limited parking nearby.
Tips for Visiting Schattenburg#
- Buy a combined ticket that includes the museum and the tower for best value if available.
- Climb the keep early in the day for the clearest light on the medieval rooftops of Feldkirch.
- Look for the municipal wine and local history exhibits - the castle's displays favor local textiles and guild artifacts, which many visitors miss.
Best Time to Visit Schattenburg#
Best visited late spring through early autumn for full museum hours and rooftop views.
Weather & Climate near Schattenburg#
Schattenburg's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -3°C to 24°C. Abundant rainfall (1183 mm/year), wettest in July.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | -3° - 3° | -2° | 68 mm | overcast | 89% | 1.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| February | Poor | -2° - 5° | 0° | 67 mm | overcast | 90% | 1.8 m/s | 0.3 low | 10.1h |
| March | Acceptable | 1° - 10° | 4° | 72 mm | partly cloudy | 87% | 2.1 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Acceptable | 4° - 14° | 8° | 83 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 2.2 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Acceptable | 8° - 19° | 14° | 102 mm | overcast | 79% | 2.1 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.9h |
| June | Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 139 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 2.0 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.7h |
| July | Very Good | 14° - 24° | 19° | 152 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.3h |
| August | Very Good | 13° - 23° | 18° | 145 mm | partly cloudy | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| September | Good | 10° - 19° | 15° | 105 mm | partly cloudy | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Acceptable | 6° - 14° | 9° | 78 mm | overcast | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Poor | 1° - 8° | 3° | 93 mm | overcast | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| December | Poor | -2° - 4° | -1° | 79 mm | overcast | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |
