Durnstein is an unchanged medieval town with ruins of a castle on a commanding hillside high above the Danube. It is here that Jane bought a scarf with a design from the Austrian Symbolist artist, Gustav Klimt (1862-1918). Here, also, Richard the Lion-Heart was captured by the Duke Leopold of Austria on his return to England from Jerusalem after fighting Saladin during the 3rd Crusade (1189-1192). Richard was imprisoned in Durnstein's castle for several years until he was released after payment of the demanded ransom, a considerable sum amounting to 2-3 times the annual income of the English monarchy.
The pictured passageway has a Baroque arch underneath a Gothic arch - representing a change in architectural taste. The Hotel Schloss was formerly a palace and now is a magnificent hotel, selected as a Relais and Chateau.
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