Hohenwerfen Fortress in Werfen

A tour of the Hohenwerfen fortress takes you back to the 11th century

36,7 km from Salzburg Residence Palace

Visitors experience a high-altitude encounter with the past at Hohenwerfen Fortress, a castle dating back over 900 years. This tall, jutting rock, high above the Salzachtal valley floor, offers a gusty view of the surrounding mountains. The feathered hunters of the province’s falconry centre, the dashing weaponry, the museums and the dark corners all encourage visitors to investigate the mighty walls of the castle from within.

Welcome to Hohenwerfen Fortress!

The mighty castle of Hohenwerfen has towered over the 155 metre high craggy rock pillar above the Salzachtal valley for more than 900 years. The powerful fortifications were built at the same time as Hohensalzburg Fortress and are some of the best preserved late medieval defences and rooms on the continent. Over the centuries they have seen countless attacks and sieges, and several great rulers and lords, such as Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, were held prisoner in the castle.

Greetings from the middle ages

A tour of the castle includes a walk around the castle chapel, the pitch kitchen, the armoury and arsenal featuring an exhibition of the weapons over the ages, the battlements, the bell tower and the adapted rooms of the regents. The illuminated exhibition on the history of building progress and the new, interactive exhibition – ‘To arms! Power, Honour, Submission’ – give visitor fascinating insights into medieval life. All year round Hohenwerfen Fortress stages a wide range of events, festive weekends, saga trails, evening tours, falconry demonstrations, and at Christmas an Advent market.

The high art of falconry

For a protracted period Hohenwerfen Fortress was used by the archbishops of Salzburg as a hunting base. One obvious sign is the existence of the falconry centre. As well as the ‘Landesfalkenhof’ the castle is also home to Austria’s very first museum of falconry featuring a special educational trail for those interested in learning about birds of prey. There are daily demonstrations of the high art of falconry as practised in a number of countries to this day.

The mighty castle of Hohenwerfen has towered over the 155 metre high craggy rock pillar above the Salzachtal valley for more than 900 years. The powerful fortifications were built at the same time as Hohensalzburg Fortress and are some of the best preserved late medieval defences and rooms on the continent. Over the centuries they have seen countless attacks and sieges, and several great rulers and lords, such as Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, were held prisoner in the castle.

Bulwark from the 11th century

Adventurers and culture buffs will find exactly what they´re looking for at Hohenwerfen Fortress: a variety of attractions including tours of the fortress, a weapons exhibit, a romantic castle tavern, a medieval shop and the historic Falconry Center with daily flight demonstrations, the first Austrian Falconry Museum as well as changing special exhibitions.

Extensive social program

Special evening programs with an extensive social program are offered during the summer months of July and August. The visitors program is rounded off by countless afternoons offering folklore, theater performances and the special falconry programs.

The fortress is accessed up a shaded footpath (approx. 15 minutes to walk). An elevator carrying passengers straight up to the fortress courtyard is available at an extra charge.

History of Hohenwerfen Fortress

Approx. 40 km south of the city of Salzburg, Hohenwerfen Fortress towers above the Salzach Valley as a strategic bulwark built atop a 155 meter rock.

The castle is majestically surrounded by the mighty Tennengau and Hagen mountain ranges. The fortification is a "sister" of Hohensalzburg Fortress and also dates back to the 11th century. The Salzburg district administration took possession of the castle in 1938. It was used as a training camp by the Austrian rural police until 1987. It was enlarged and renovated several times over the centuries.

Hohenwerfen served as a prison for many centuries. Rulers such as Archbishop Adalbert III (1198), Graf Albert von Friesach (1253), the Styrian governor Siegmund (1525) and Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau (1611) were held captive here.

Today the castle is used as an "Adventure Castle" featuring a variety of events such as concerts, theater performances and folklore evenings as well as castle celebrations.

The historic Falconry Center is a special attraction, offering daily flight demonstrations by various birds of prey.

Geöffnet von 02. April bis 3. November:
April, Oktober & November:
9.30 - 16.00 Uhr (Mo. Ruhetag, ausgenommen Feiertage)
Mai - September: 9.00 - 17.00 Uhr (täglich)
15. Juli - 16. August: 9.00 - 18.00 Uhr (täglich)

Ticket vor Ort (ohne Lift):
Erwachsene: € 12,50
Kinder (6-14 Jahre): € 7,00
Familie: € 30,00
Ermäßigt: € 11,00

Ticket vor Ort (mit Lift):
Erwachsene:
€ 16,50
Kinder (6-14 Jahre):
€ 9,50
Familie:
€ 39,50
Ermäßigt:
€ 14,50

SalzburgCARD: -20%

Einmalig freier Eintritt; Fahrt mit dem Burgaufzug nicht inklusive.

Erlebnisburg Hohenwerfen
Burgstraße 2
5450 Werfen

T.: +43 6468 7603
F.: +43 6468 7603-4
E.: office@burg-hohenwerfen.at

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