Schloss Dürnstein, a 17th-century castle, occupies a magnificent position overlooking the River Danube in lower Austria’s fertile Wachau Valley. Dinner on the terrace is a highlight for guests—a skillful blend of traditional recipes and international cuisine.
Dishes include Austrian classics such as Wiener Schnitzel, goulash, and breaded dumplings with apricots—a characteristic dessert of the Wachau region. And the frequent use of apricots in the region’s traditional recipes has inspired the hotel to pursue its own fruit production—opting for the sweeter and more intense Wachau apricots, grown only in the surrounding valley. The hotel uses organic methods to cultivate some 150 apricot trees that supply a variety of home-made products, including preserves, fruit juices, and—of course—schnapps. Jams are served at the hotel’s breakfast tables, and a small personal pot is offered to all guests as a welcome gift. Many guests also place orders for the schloss’s apricot preserves, which they continue to enjoy at home.
