Hohensalzburg Castle rises majestically above Salzburg, impressing tourists with its brutal medieval appearance and degree of preservation. It is one of the few castles in Central Europe that has never been conquered in battle in its long history.
An imposing fortress of 30,000 square metres. - It is an entire city with various functional buildings and a kind of time machine that allows you to go straight back to the 16th century. Narrow winding streets, imposing defences, luxurious interiors from the 15th and 16th centuries, breathtaking views of the city and its surroundings and interesting museums - Hohensalzburg is definitely a must see in Salzburg, and in the whole of Austria..
From archbishop's residence to prison
The castle was erected on Mount Festung at the behest of Archbishop Gebhard I in 1077. The purpose of the castle was traditional - defence against any external forces and, if necessary, even against their own subjects for the ruling prince-archbishops of Salzburg. Over the following centuries the castle was repeatedly rebuilt and enlarged. Its present appearance dates from the 15th and 16th centuries.
In 1500, the world's first funicular railway was designed and put into operation to get up to the castle. At that time, goods and products were lifted by horses driven by prisoners. Today, the mechanism has been improved with modern cabins - it is pleasant and interesting to take a ride on the world's first funicular, which has been in operation for over 600 years.
The only siege of Hohensalzburg Castle took place in 1525. The inhabitants rebelled against the ruler of Salzburg, Matthäus Lang. The siege lasted 61 days, but the fortress survived. Not without trickery, they say. One single bull was repainted in different colours every day and sent to graze in full view of the besiegers. Having decided that there were still plenty of cows in the fortress and hunger would not threaten it, the enemies retreated.
In the Napoleonic era, the castle, however, which had already lost its defensive status, was ceded to the enemy without a fight. In the 19th century a prison was built in Hohensalzburg, which continued to function into the 20th century as a prison for German and Italian prisoners of war.
Photo: Zairon. Source: Wikipedia
The fortress today
The castle gives a complete picture not only of the defences of the Middle Ages, but also of the life of the elites of the time. One of the most luxurious rooms in the castle is considered to be the "Golden Hall", where the archbishop held audiences. Fine wood carvings with gold plating, colourful wall paintings, a huge fireplace, benches decorated with exquisite carvings with thematic drawings are still impressive today. The main decoration of the hall is the cooker decorated with glazed coloured ceramics. This was an absolute know-how of the time, each tile is handmade and unique.
The living quarters are as luxurious as the Golden Hall. Leather panels on the walls are adorned with gold carved buttons. Next to the bedroom, you can see a 15th-century toilet bowl and a bathroom. In the salt storehouse, where portraits of the most important rulers of the fortress are now hung, the butterfly-shaped ceiling is fascinating. Salt was highly valued in those times and was the source of funds for the construction of the castle and its splendid decoration.
The castle has three small but interesting and informative museums:
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The museum of the Reiner Regiment reflects the entire history of the regiment that once quartered in the castle.
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The fortress museum introduces the history of the fortress and the life of its inhabitants.
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The Puppet Museum presents a collection of exhibits from the puppet theatre of Salzburg.
The Hohensalzburg Fortress is also pleasant to walk around. The ancient surroundings, historical background, marvellous views of the town, cafes and various cultural events make it possible to spend a whole day here.
How to get there
The fortress is located just outside Salzburg at 34 Monchsberg. There are several ways to get to Hohensalzburg:
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On foot. If you are not afraid of a rather steep climb of 120 metres and have an extra half an hour, you can walk. It is difficult to lose your way, you can see the fortress from any point of the city.
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By bus. There are several bus stops at the foot of the castle, including "Salzburg Petersbrunnstraße", which can be reached by buses 5, 9, 21 or 25. Further up, however, you have to climb on foot or take the historic funicular railway.
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By funicular. From the historical centre of the city you can reach the fortress by funicular. The 200 metre journey takes you a few minutes and you will enjoy the views. The funiculars run every 10 minutes.
The last option is of course the most interesting. After all, this is the same funicular, the first in the world, built in 1500.
Entrance fees
There are several entrance ticket options for visiting Hohensalzburg. The most comprehensive all-inclusive ticket will cost €16.60 for an adult. You can opt out of some of the services and the cost will go down. There are discounts if you book online and pass before 10am. And it's the best time to enjoy relative solitude in a medieval fortress town.
