Dating back to 830 CE, Spitz an der Donau is one of the most enchanting medieval villages in the Wachau Valley. It’s known for wine production—vineyards surround the little town—and apricot orchards.
Although it’s tiny, Spitz has notable attractions. It’s guarded by an atmospheric ruined castle and is the location of an unusual, unique medieval church. Stroll the cobblestone streets, hike or cycle up to the castle, and taste local specialties while you’re here, from apricot dumplings to Riesling wines.
Read on to discover the best things to see and do in Spitz on your next Danube cruise.
Why Visit Spitz, Austria?
The historic ruins of Hinterhaus Castle overlook the Danube River, terraced vineyards, and the picturesque town of Spitz in Austria’s Wachau Valley.
Spitz is a delightfully under-the-radar village in the Wachau Valley and a journey with Celebrity River Cruises℠ is one of the easiest ways to reach it.
Spitz may be tiny, but it has an impressive history and some fascinating sights, which you can easily see in a day; losing yourself among the medieval streets or the wooded hillside trails of this beautiful Austrian town is part of the charm.
The village is dominated by the atmospheric ruin of Hinterhaus Castle, which you can combine with an easy hike. Spitz is also known for its impressive medieval church, St. Mauritius.
History aside, Spitz is defined by two things: wine, specifically Grüner Veltliner and Riesling, grown on stone terraces sloping up the hillsides, and apricots, the orchards spreading out along the lower slopes. A clue to the prolific grape output of the vineyards here is the Tausendeimerberg—Thousand Barrel Mountain—which lies just behind the village, yielding more than 70,000 bottles annually.
Here’s how to plan your visit and what to see.
Hike up to Hinterhaus Castle for Far-Reaching River Views
Perched above lush green hills, the stone ruins of Hinterhaus Castle keep watch over Spitz and the scenic Wachau Valley.
Hinterhaus is the ruin of a rugged, 12th-century castle clinging to a steep rock outcrop above the village. Originally, it was used to survey and control traffic through the Wachau Valley, an essential trade route. At one point, the castle was owned by the Kuenring family, who also owned the more famous Dürnstein Castle, another highlight of river cruising in Austria.
Hinterhaus has been in a state of decay for centuries, but it still makes a fascinating visit—and the views over the vineyards, forested hills, and the river below are magnificent, all the more so if you clamber up the Romanesque keep. You could hike up a steep-ish trail to get here, or rent an e-bike in town, or see the ruin as part of a longer, three-mile walk through verdant scenery and vineyards.
Arrive over the summer or winter solstice and the whole castle is illuminated with fairy lights after dark, an especially romantic sight.
Visit the Medieval Church of St. Mauritius
What’s most interesting about St. Mauritius’ Church is the tower’s roof; it’s the only surviving late medieval structure of its kind in Austria, made with colorful ceramic tiles, overlapping like fish scales.
The ancient roof nearly didn’t make it when the church was badly damaged during a storm in 2020. A community-funded project helped restore it, preserving 80% of the original tiles and creating a further 2,000 using only authentic medieval techniques. In other words, a true labor of love, recognized in 2025 with a European Heritage Award.
Step inside the church to discover further treasures, from 16th-century frescoes to wooden figures of Christ and the apostles, dating to the 14th century.
After your visit, continue up the hill for 12 minutes to the Rotes Tor, or Red Gate, the last surviving medieval gate to the town and the perfect frame for shots of the Danube below.
Take a Stroll Around the Village
Spitz is a delight if you simply want to stroll and explore; the village is a rainbow of color, especially in summertime, when you can wander along cobblestone streets past baroque townhouses in shades of ochre, pale green, and dusky pink, their windowboxes overflowing with scarlet geraniums.
Take in Danube views from the riverside promenade and check out the roller ferry across to Arnsdorf; it has no engine but is guided by underwater cables and propelled by the Danube’s currents. To learn about the river’s importance, drop into the Schifffahrtsmuseum (the shipping museum). Here, you can explore centuries of shipping history along the Danube River, a vital artery of trade, cultural exchange, and transportation.
If you’re feeling energetic, hike up Tausendeimerberg—a hill that dominates the village—both for river views and the sheer novelty of the wine fridge at the top, which operates on an honesty system.
By now you’ll have worked up an appetite, so try some traditional Wachau cuisine. Gasthof Goldenes Schiff has no set menu but offers seasonal, regional dishes, from lamb and asparagus in spring to those famous Wachau apricots in summer. Gasthof Prankl is another great option for farm-to-table cuisine, including locally foraged mushrooms and fresh trout.
Taste the Famous Wachau Valley Apricots
Basket of fresh apricots beside a traditional wayside cross, overlooking the vineyards and picturesque town of Spitz an der Donau in Austria’s Wachau Valley.
Sweet, juicy apricots are almost as important as grapes in Spitz and in the Wachau in general; the fruit is so highly regarded that it even has its own designation, Wachauer Apricot PDO. You’ll see orchards all along the riverbank, with frothy white blossoms in spring, golden fruit heavy on the branches in summer, and the leaves changing into their fall colors toward the end of the year.
The town’s apricot festival in July is the perfect setting in which to try these plump, intensely flavored fruits in every form, from marmalades and schnapps to chutneys and syrups—but apricot delicacies are available year-round and make a great gift to bring home.
A must-try on any dessert menu is Marillenknödel, apricot dumplings made with a whole fruit wrapped in a special dough and poached before being rolled in breadcrumbs, browned in a pan, dusted in powdered sugar, and eaten melt-in-the-mouth warm.
How to Spend a Day in Spitz, Austria
A blossoming apricot tree frames a cyclist along the Danube River, with a church in Spitz village in Austria’s UNESCO-listed Wachau Valley.
There are several ways to spend a day in Spitz, depending on your interests. Whatever you plan to do, though, wear good walking shoes; you’re going to be on your feet a lot.
Here’s a suggested itinerary for the day, whether you’re docked by the town or visiting from Vienna:
- Stroll from the riverbank up to St. Mauritius’ church.
- Head further uphill from here to the Red Gate for that money shot of the gate framing the river below.
- Alternatively, walk back down the hill along the riverfront promenade and then up to the ruin of Hinterhaus Castle; allow around 25 minutes.
- Stop for refreshments in one of the many wine taverns and rustic restaurants.
- You could devote your time to a longer hike and follow the marked trail around Tausendeimerberg; this won’t take more than half a day and still allows time for a late lunch back in town.
- Alternatively, rent an e-bike from the village rental shop. Spitz is on the Danube Cycle Path, and it’s possible to cycle all the way to Dürnstein and back in a couple of hours along flat, cyclist-friendly riverside trails.
FAQs: Planning Your Visit to Spitz
What is Spitz, Austria known for?
Autumn panorama of Austria’s Wachau Valley, where vibrant fall foliage blankets the hillsides and ships cruise along the winding Danube River.
Spitz is a medieval riverside town located in the Wachau Valley, one of the most scenic stretches of the Danube. It’s famed for its apricots, vineyards, the dramatic ruin of Hinterhaus Castle, the unusual Church of St. Mauritius, and riverside walks.
What can you see in Spitz in a day?
Everything, essentially, as the village is tiny. You can easily fit the church, the ruined castle, the village itself, and a tasty lunch into one day.
Is Spitz easy to explore on foot?
Yes, it is, although it’s hilly behind the town. There’s a lovely three-mile hike around Tausendeimerberg with magnificent Danube views and a stop at the wine fridge honesty bar. Or try a longer hike via the Red Gate. If you don’t do hills, there are scenic riverside strolls, too.
Plan Your Perfect Visit to Spitz
Spitz is the quintessential Wachau village: picturesque, easy to explore, and packed with history and culinary discoveries.
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