A first castle at Weitra was built from about 1201 onwards at the behest of the Austrian noble Hadmar II of Kuenring, also owner of Dürnstein Castle where King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in the winter of 1192/93.
A first fortress at Weitra was constructed from about 1201 onwards by Hadmar II of Kuenring, the same nobleman who owned Dürnstein Castle, where King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in the winter of 1192/93.