Seeschloss Ort
Seeschloss Ort
4.5
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:00 PM
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- FLnurseERBoca Raton, Florida5,621 contributionsOrnate building on an artificial islandStunning location on the artificial island makes Schloss Ort a must for any photos taken in the area. On the day when we visited, there was a steady stream of wedding guests walking in. We admired the Schloss from a distance only.Visited September 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten September 17, 2023
- Averie K25 contributionsCool historic castle with a great view!Beautiful castle with even more beautiful scenery. Ort Castle has gorgeous views of the Traunsee Lake within the Erlakogel mountains. Went with a tour group and got to walk all the way around the little island, go inside the castle, and walk around. The museum was closed and there was no one around/maintaining it to give more information about the history, so 4/5 stars. Only info was one sign and I had to google more info. Still really cool to see and it’s totally free, which was a plus. You can tell the castle is very old, but wish it was kept up with more.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten February 7, 2024
- Raintree_ThailandBangkok, Thailand4,287 contributionsWhite castle on the lake!Beautiful white castle built in the middle of Lake Traunsee, at Gmunden. To access the castle, visitors cross a cool wooden bridge from which you can get neat photos. There is a small fee to go inside the castle, but you can peek the interior without paying.Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten July 31, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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FLnurseER
Boca Raton, FL5,621 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Stunning location on the artificial island makes Schloss Ort a must for any photos taken in the area. On the day when we visited, there was a steady stream of wedding guests walking in. We admired the Schloss from a distance only.
Written September 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Aqua_Uomo
Toronto, Canada8,107 contributions
Sept 2022
Not for being big and not for being nice to visit inside. The location on a small island makes it special. Amazing how they used every inch of this small island when they built it, this is why the castle has an irregular shape, but you won't notice unless you see my aerial pictures, attached. write me if you want to see the whole video.
You can walk around the entire castle in 10 minutes,
Enjoy it!
You can walk around the entire castle in 10 minutes,
Enjoy it!
Written November 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BaronFoer
Jacksonville, FL907 contributions
Mar 2014 • Friends
Nestled in the mountains on an island on the lake there is quite a bit of history here. You will love the view but will need someone to show you all the interesting points. We were fortunate and had someone with us so we got to wander all around it. The views out over the lake are great. It is just south of Gmunden so very easy to find. There was no admission fee for us and I don't believe they ever charge. If you like to check out some historic places this is easy to get to and interesting. It will also show you a high water mark for the lake which was interesting.
If you find this helpful please mark it so.
Berny
If you find this helpful please mark it so.
Berny
Written March 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christian P
Los Angeles, CA29 contributions
Jun 2016 • Couples
Beautiful small castle in lake Traun.
Don't pay the 3 Euros entrance fee to see the castle from inside. There is nothing to see. Small museum with no relevant information.
The walk around the castle is for free and worth doing while in Gmunden.
Don't pay the 3 Euros entrance fee to see the castle from inside. There is nothing to see. Small museum with no relevant information.
The walk around the castle is for free and worth doing while in Gmunden.
Written June 26, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ImmerWandern
Palos Park, IL11,713 contributions
Sept 2017 • Friends
On our drive from Vienna to Hallstatt we decided to take a break for a late lunch at the town of Gmunden, on the banks of the Traunsee (Lake Traun) in Salzkammergut. A quick search on-line showed that we could have both a good lunch and a scenic visit at Seeschloss (Lake Castle) Ort and so off we went. We ended up being extremely happy we did so.
We parked and walked a short distance through woods to the lakeside. On the way we passed an imposing building complex which turned out to the Landschloss, the Land Castle. It was the outer defense for the original castle on the lake and dates back to the early 1600s. By building the Seeschloss on an island, however, made the lake essentially a moat and the primary defense.
It is thought the Romans had a fort on the island and the first reference to a building on the site was in 909CE but the first documentation dates back "only" to 1053CE. The castle has had multple owners in the subsequent 1000+ years, including 3 Holy Roman Emperors. The current castle was (re)built in 1626 after a fire gutted the original structure. The tower clock was installed a few years later in 1634; it has been wound by hand every day since then. Seeschloß Ort is considered the oldest building in Salzkammergut
A popular local legend states that the lake is home to a monster, a giant seahorse called "Lungy" which is ridden by mermaids. There is another, more popular, legend, however. On the welcome sign guests were encouraged to call out "Riese Erla" or "Giant Erla". The legend of "Giant Erla und die Nixe" explained how this small island came to be (there were no other islands on Traunsee). The mighty giant Erla ruled Salzkammergut with elves, gnomes, dwarves answering only to him. One day, while at the lake, he found himself enchanted by a blond mermaid ("Traunsee nixe") named Blonderl. They fell in love and, as a sign of their devotion to eachother, agreed to let a local witch turn them into ordinary humans so they could be together. Before that transformation, however, Erla tossed rock after rock down from Traunstein into the lake until an island formed. He commanded the elves, gnomes and dwarves to build a palace for him and his bride, Blonderl. Once they were done the witch transformed Erla and Blonderl and the happy couple moved into their new home.
After enjoying the views of the town and Traunsee from the bridge and exploring the interior of the castle we sat down for a leisurely lunch at Orther Stub'n, inside the castle. It was as traditonal and interior as could be expected. The heavy wood beams in the ceiling and wide plank wood floors were centuries old. We enjoyed dumpling soup and trout freshly-caught from Traunsee. There was outdoor dining available in the interior courtyard but we selected to eat in the main dining room.
We then sat outside for awhile to contemplate the view to the south down the length of Traunsee. Traunsee is a glacial lake carved out during the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago. This island was likely a glacial deposit, part of a morraine. The glacial origin explains the appearance of these headlands, and the lake was basically a land-locked fjord.
But returning to the local legend, what about Erla and Blonderl? Unfortunately their joy was short-lived. Blonderl soon missed her lake and would stand in the water pining for her former freedom (she couldn't even swim). Even the meadows of Forget-me-nots that Erla planted did not console her and she died. Overcome with grief Erla reverted to his former giant form and abandoned his palace. He carved out the face of his love in the mountains (to the right of the photo a mountain, Erlakogel, appears to have the profile of a human face). He then disappeared into Traunstein Mountain, never to be seen again.
If ever in the area, I strongly recommend taking some time to visit Seeschloss Ort. You won't regret it.
We parked and walked a short distance through woods to the lakeside. On the way we passed an imposing building complex which turned out to the Landschloss, the Land Castle. It was the outer defense for the original castle on the lake and dates back to the early 1600s. By building the Seeschloss on an island, however, made the lake essentially a moat and the primary defense.
It is thought the Romans had a fort on the island and the first reference to a building on the site was in 909CE but the first documentation dates back "only" to 1053CE. The castle has had multple owners in the subsequent 1000+ years, including 3 Holy Roman Emperors. The current castle was (re)built in 1626 after a fire gutted the original structure. The tower clock was installed a few years later in 1634; it has been wound by hand every day since then. Seeschloß Ort is considered the oldest building in Salzkammergut
A popular local legend states that the lake is home to a monster, a giant seahorse called "Lungy" which is ridden by mermaids. There is another, more popular, legend, however. On the welcome sign guests were encouraged to call out "Riese Erla" or "Giant Erla". The legend of "Giant Erla und die Nixe" explained how this small island came to be (there were no other islands on Traunsee). The mighty giant Erla ruled Salzkammergut with elves, gnomes, dwarves answering only to him. One day, while at the lake, he found himself enchanted by a blond mermaid ("Traunsee nixe") named Blonderl. They fell in love and, as a sign of their devotion to eachother, agreed to let a local witch turn them into ordinary humans so they could be together. Before that transformation, however, Erla tossed rock after rock down from Traunstein into the lake until an island formed. He commanded the elves, gnomes and dwarves to build a palace for him and his bride, Blonderl. Once they were done the witch transformed Erla and Blonderl and the happy couple moved into their new home.
After enjoying the views of the town and Traunsee from the bridge and exploring the interior of the castle we sat down for a leisurely lunch at Orther Stub'n, inside the castle. It was as traditonal and interior as could be expected. The heavy wood beams in the ceiling and wide plank wood floors were centuries old. We enjoyed dumpling soup and trout freshly-caught from Traunsee. There was outdoor dining available in the interior courtyard but we selected to eat in the main dining room.
We then sat outside for awhile to contemplate the view to the south down the length of Traunsee. Traunsee is a glacial lake carved out during the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago. This island was likely a glacial deposit, part of a morraine. The glacial origin explains the appearance of these headlands, and the lake was basically a land-locked fjord.
But returning to the local legend, what about Erla and Blonderl? Unfortunately their joy was short-lived. Blonderl soon missed her lake and would stand in the water pining for her former freedom (she couldn't even swim). Even the meadows of Forget-me-nots that Erla planted did not console her and she died. Overcome with grief Erla reverted to his former giant form and abandoned his palace. He carved out the face of his love in the mountains (to the right of the photo a mountain, Erlakogel, appears to have the profile of a human face). He then disappeared into Traunstein Mountain, never to be seen again.
If ever in the area, I strongly recommend taking some time to visit Seeschloss Ort. You won't regret it.
Written August 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marcela12
Melnik, Czech Republic583 contributions
Aug 2012 • Couples
An interesting place to see, there is a courtyard and some old chambers. You can watch a film about the area. There is no admission fee, you can walk free in the museum which is basically a couple of old chambers on the groundfloor.There was a summer school on the first floor and there is a restaurant in the courtyard so all in all there is not much to see but on a nice day you will have a lot of beautiful photos. Definitely worth a short visit. There is a huge car park close to the castle which is free so why not pop in if you like historical buildings.
Written August 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AnitaBev
Marina del Rey, CA16 contributions
Jul 2011
Schools Ort is a very unique structure, on it's own little island, reachable by a wooden bridge. This is a free attraction, and interesting for those that enjoy historical buildings. It seems to be a popular site for weddings and receptions. Basically, it is an open courtyard, with one interior space to view, the chapel. All other rooms on both floors, were locked. The gift shop was nice.
Written July 6, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bernard v
Ashkelon, Israel132 contributions
Jul 2018 • Couples
walking through the park, crossing the bridge and touring the interior court and around the castle will be enough and you'll save a couple of euros. the museum may be interesting but all the explanations are in German.
Written July 15, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travel_Bug81
Waterloo, Canada941 contributions
Aug 2015 • Couples
If you are passing by Gmunden, this little castle is worth a short stop. There is public parking that you don't have to pay about 2-3 minutes up the street from the official park entrance.
There is an entrance fee to the inside of the museum, but you can walk around on the outside of it, and on the bridge to take pictures. There is a park right next to the castle, so you can take pictures from the side, from the side of the lake. It's possible to take a boat ride from Gmunden to here.
The castle is not big, but it's pretty and its setting gives it a distinctive feature too. You don't need more than one hour to see it.
There is an entrance fee to the inside of the museum, but you can walk around on the outside of it, and on the bridge to take pictures. There is a park right next to the castle, so you can take pictures from the side, from the side of the lake. It's possible to take a boat ride from Gmunden to here.
The castle is not big, but it's pretty and its setting gives it a distinctive feature too. You don't need more than one hour to see it.
Written September 28, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ChrisR0208
München, Deutschland114 contributions
Sept 2020
I was looking for the "Schlosshotel Orth" which I know from the TV. It's a really nice place you should visit. It's not a hotel in real live but an event location.
Written September 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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