Donaustauf Castle
Burgruine Donaustauf
Germany · Bavaria — Regensburg district · Near Regensburg
Built from about 914–930 by Bishop Tuto of Regensburg; a Celtic fort occupied the hill earlier, around 500 BC · A hilltop castle ruin above the market town of Donaustauf, begun in the early 10th century as a defence against Hungarian raids, with its first stone buildings added around the 1050s and its last major extension around 1610; a separate Celtic fort occupied the same hill around 500 BC
This page is part of an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by Donaustauf Castle.
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Quick Facts
- Guided tour from
- €99
- Duration
- Guided tour from Regensburg — duration confirmed at booking
- Best time
- Year-round
- Nearest city
- Regensburg
Featured Tour
Regensburg: Walhalla and Donaustauf Castle Tour
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Highlights
- ✦Begun from about 914–930 by Bishop Tuto of Regensburg as a defence against Hungarian raids
- ✦The hill held a Celtic fort of its own around 500 BC, before the medieval castle was built
- ✦First recorded as "castellum quod dicitur Stufo"; the first stone buildings followed around the 1050s, with the last major extension around 1610
- ✦Passed to the House of Thurn und Taxis on 18 March 1812, and has belonged to the market town of Donaustauf since 1986
- ✦Shares its hilltop town with the Walhalla monument, a separate Ludwig I-commissioned hall inaugurated in 1842
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Donaustauf Castle is a ruined hilltop fortress above the Bavarian market town of Donaustauf, near Regensburg — a site with a surprisingly deep layered history for a relatively modest-looking ruin today. Long before the medieval castle existed, the same hill held a Celtic fort, dated by excavation evidence to around 500 BC; 1981 digs on the lower outer bailey's northeast side pointed to a late Hallstatt-period occupation, giving this detail real archaeological grounding rather than resting on tourist folklore alone.
The castle proper was begun from about 914 to 930, commissioned by Bishop Tuto of Regensburg as part of the defensive response to Hungarian raiding parties then pushing into Bavaria. An early record names the site "castellum quod dicitur Stufo" — the castle called Stufo — placing its documented existence somewhere in that same 894–930 window. The first stone buildings followed in the 1050s, and the castle continued to be extended for centuries afterward, with its last major building campaign dated to around 1610. From the late 17th century, the fortress entered a long decline as its military relevance faded.
Ownership eventually passed out of ecclesiastical and local noble hands: on 18 March 1812, the castle came under the House of Thurn und Taxis, the princely family long associated with the Regensburg region. The ruin has belonged to the market town of Donaustauf itself since 1986, and safeguarding and renovation work on the remaining structure began in 1997, stabilising the ruin in something close to the state visitors see today.
Donaustauf shares its hill-studded setting with one of Bavaria's more unusual monuments: the Walhalla, a Parthenon-style hall of fame commissioned by King Ludwig I and inaugurated on 18 October 1842, built on a separate hill within the same municipality. The GetYourGuide tour covering Donaustauf Castle pairs both sites in a single guided excursion from Regensburg, rather than selling access to the castle ruin alone.
Because this is a guided tour with transport from Regensburg rather than a standalone entry ticket, visitors should check the current listing for exact pickup times and duration before booking. Entry to the Walhalla and to Donaustauf Castle itself is not included in the tour price — both carry their own small entrance fees, paid separately on site.
History
A Celtic fort occupied the hill at Donaustauf around 500 BC, according to archaeological excavation. The medieval castle itself was begun from about 914 to 930 by Bishop Tuto of Regensburg, as a defence against Hungarian raids, and was first recorded as "castellum quod dicitur Stufo." Stone construction followed in the 1050s, and the castle was extended for centuries, with its last major building campaign around 1610. The fortress declined from the late 17th century. It passed to the House of Thurn und Taxis on 18 March 1812, and has belonged to the market town of Donaustauf since 1986, with safeguarding and renovation work beginning in 1997.
How to Visit
What this is: A guided tour from Regensburg covering both Donaustauf Castle and the Walhalla monument — not a standalone castle entry ticket. Transport is part of the package.
Tickets: Entrance to Donaustauf Castle and to the Walhalla are not included in the tour price and are paid separately at each site.
Practical tips: Confirm the exact tour duration, pickup point and schedule when booking, since this runs as a guided excursion rather than a self-guided visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
No — the GetYourGuide listing is a guided tour from Regensburg that includes both Donaustauf Castle and the separate Walhalla monument, with transport included. It's a guided excursion, not a standalone entry ticket to the castle ruin — duration is confirmed at booking.
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