Durnstein achieved 12th-century notoriety by its imprisonment of King Richard the Lion-Heart of England. Today, this picturesque village is one of the prime destinations in the Wachau.In the village, Hauptstrasse is a cobbled street with some picturesque 16th-century houses, wrought-iron signs and floral displays. The parish church, formerly the abbey church (Chorherrenstift), has been meticulously restored. The baroque interior effectively combines white stucco and dark wood balconies. Entry includes access to the porch overlooking the blue Danube (where photo opportunities abound) and an exhibition on the Augustinian monks who once ruled the roost here (up until the monastery was dissolved by Joseph II in 1788).