Festung Hohensalzburg

Around 1077 Archbishop Gebhard began building the castle. Over the following centuries his successors expanded Hohensalzburg considerably. Around 1500, under Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach, the fortress took on its present appearance. The castle was originally meant to protect the principality and the archbishops against attack; in all those years it was never taken by foreign troops.

The fortress houses several museums. The Festungsmuseum shows objects from the court life of the prince-archbishops. There are also the Marionettenmuseum and the Rainer-Regimentsmuseum. The historic Zeughaus devotes an interactive exhibition to weapons and armour. On the third floor are the Gothic Fürstenzimmer: the Goldene Stube, the Goldener Saal and a bedchamber. The furnishings of these rooms are original and have remained unchanged since 1501/1502. Striking features are the imitation night sky of golden orbs on an azure background and the Gothic tiled stove in the Goldene Stube. There are also a Magic Theatre and modern media stations.

The Panorama-Tour runs from the Salzmagazin by way of the dungeon to the viewing platform of the Reckturm, with the finest view over the city, and then along the wall walk to the well-known Salzburger Stier.

The fortress is open all year. Since 1892 it has been reachable not only on foot, but also by the Festungsbahn from the Festungsgasse.

Every Sunday at 11:45 the tower trumpeters play from the Trompeterturm; the baroque fanfares can then be heard as far as the old town. The fortress, more than 900 years old, is also the setting for the Salzburger Festungskonzerte.