Brief information:
- What is special about the fortress? Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of the largest castles in Europe. The well-preserved medieval fortress is enthroned on a hill above the city Salzburg and attracts thousands of visitors every year.
- Where is the fortress located? In the centre of Salzburg, address:Mönchsberg 34, 5020 Salzburg
- When is it open? All year round. Here you can find All times.
- How much is the entrance fee? Here you will find All admission prices. We recommend the all-inclusive ticket with fortress railway. With the Salzburg Card is Admission 1x free of charge. Admission to the outdoor area is free for residents of the province of Salzburg.
- How do you get up to the castle? Approx. 20 minutes on foot. The fortress railway runs every 10 minutes
- How much time should I allow? 1-2 hours
General
Hohensalzburg Fortress is an impressive medieval fortress that sits majestically on a hill above the city of Mozart. It is one of the Europe's largest castles and was built in the 11th century. The fortress offers a breathtaking view of the city and the surrounding countryside. With more than one million visitors a year, Hohensalzburg Fortress is one of Austria's most famous and most visited landmarks. It takes around 20 minutes to walk up the sometimes quite steep path. By train, it only takes about 1 minute, but costs a little more than €4.
The story
Hohensalzburg Fortress was built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg and has undergone numerous extensions and renovations since then. For example, the curtain wall around the castle was rebuilt during the first peasant unrest and the first threat from the Turks in 1465-1485 and reinforced by Leonhard von Keutschach around 1500. Paris Lodron expanded the medieval castle into a fortress by adding a strong outer ring of artillery bastions.
Over the centuries, the fortress became an important military base and was also used as the residence of the Salzburg archbishops. The fortress played an important role in the history of the city and was also of strategic importance during the two world wars. The fortress is one of the largest castles in Europe with over 7,000 square metres, including the bastions with over 14,000 square metres of built-up area.
The castle today
Today, Hohensalzburg Fortress is a popular tourist destination and an important cultural centre. Visitors can reach the fortress either on foot or by cable car. The fortress offers a breathtaking view of the city of Salzburg and the surrounding mountains.
Tip: especially in the evening you have a wonderful view of the old town.
There are many sights and attractions to discover at Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Here are some of the most important ones:
Castle Museum: In the castle museum, visitors can admire a large collection of historical artefacts that tell the story of the fortress and the city of Salzburg. There is medieval armour, weapons and tools on display.
Prince's room: The Princes' Rooms are the luxurious living quarters of the Salzburg archbishops and offer an insight into the lifestyle of the rich and powerful rulers.
Rainer regimental exhibition: This exhibition shows the everyday life of soldiers in the Rainer Regiment during the 19th century. Visitors can see historical uniforms, weapons and other equipment.
Weapons exhibition: In the weapons exhibition, visitors can admire an impressive collection of historical weapons and armour from different eras.
Fortress concerts: The fortress concerts are a highlight for music lovers. Visitors can enjoy classical music by Mozart and other famous composers in the fortress's Golden Hall.
Torture chamber: The torture chamber displays some of the cruel tools used to torture prisoners during the Middle Ages.
We recommend every visitor to take their time and explore the fortress and its attractions extensively. 2 hours should be enough.
On the castle's homepage you will also find various options for Guided tours and various events.
To summarise, Hohensalzburg Fortress is an important cultural site and a popular tourist destination. The fortress offers an insight into the history of the city of Salzburg and the region. From several points you have a wonderful view of the city.