Schloss Purschenstein

The wedding service is attentive to detail, and the castle is a very nice venue for weddings. As a tourist attraction, though, it’s less impressive. The castle style isn’t especially pretty, and it feels dated and poorly maintained, with plaster coming off the walls in the rooms and elsewhere.

We had a junior suite looking over the courtyard and town, with a comfortable mix of old and new: antique furnishings, but a modern bathroom and bed. The restaurant was fully booked when we tried to reserve, but the receptionist managed to find us a table. The food was good, the wine delicious, and our waiter was a gracious host. A lovely place to stay, conveniently close to Seiffen.

The suite was the best room in the castle, spacious and beautiful, and the whole place is adorable. There’s a sauna and pool, plus a large hall for breakfast. Some staff weren’t friendly, but the place itself was amazing and I highly recommend staying here. The restaurant was underwhelming at best: beautiful surroundings, terrible service.

The food and setting were the highlights for us. My partner has a gluten allergy, and they gladly adjusted the dishes to accommodate it. We chose the cheapest option, but the room was still perfectly good, and the location was gorgeous. I also liked the garden's more natural look, even if it wasn't especially well kept; it felt nicer to me than the neatly manicured gardens at most tourist castles. There were a few signs that parts of the place could use more care and money, and some of the courtyard was blocked off with ugly construction fencing. Still, the important things were clearly prioritized, and it didn't bother me. We had a perfect stay and I'd happily recommend it.