Donaublick Kettenturm

In the summer of 2013, the chain tower was revitalised in collaboration with the tourism association, the market town of St. Martin i. M. and the owner Dr. Plappart. A free-standing viewing platform was installed inside the ruins, creating the DONAUBLICK KETTENTURM. The tourist investment, 50% of which was subsidised by the EU as a Leader project, can be visited and climbed at any time.

The Kettenturm, popularly known as the Lauer or robber's tower, stands on a protruding granite rock about 25 metres above the Danube on the rugged cliff below Neuhaus Castle.
Originally 18 metres high, the Kettenturm has a base area of 8 x 8 metres. The granite masonry made of quarry stone is 1.50 to 1.70 metres thick. The first floor (approx. 1.10 metres thick) has almost completely collapsed.

In 1371, the noble Schaunberg family was granted the right by the sovereign to collect a toll on the Danube at Neuhaus. A chain stretched across the Danube prevented ships from travelling further. After paying a "toll", the journey could continue. Arbitrary tolls soon led to complaints against the Schaunbergs from merchants and merchant ships from Passau. In 1381, a feud broke out between the sovereign and the Schaunbergs. Finally, an arbitration ruling ends the dispute and prohibits the collection of tolls. Remains of burnt clay bricks bear witness to the maintenance work carried out under Albrecht von Sprinzenstein around 1583.

During the Upper Austrian Peasants' War in 1626, the Danube is once again blocked at Neuhaus with a chain to prevent the supply of soldiers, weapons and provisions by ship to the city of Linz, which is besieged by the peasants.

The last time the Danube was closed off here was during the French Wars at the beginning of the 19th century. Emperor Napoleon had the chain brought to Paris as a "souvenir". According to the French Ministry of Defence, the chain is now in the Army Museum in Paris. It is 180 metres long and weighs 3580 kg.