Hohensalzburg Fortress
At the top of Mount Festung stands the Hohensalzburg Fortress. From here, from a bird's-eye view, you can see not only the city, but also its surroundings. From this place you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Alpine Mountains. It is the most powerful fortress in Central Europe, which has been preserved for more than 9 centuries. The castle is a symbol of Salzburg, and is included in the list of the most visited sights in Austria. Its total area is approximately 30,000 m2. It stretches for 250 meters in length and 150 meters in width.
History of the fortress
In 1077, by order of Prince-Archbishop Gebhard, 3 fortifications were built to protect their lands. The Hohensalzburg fortress, built on the mountain, was one of them. The need for fortifications was related to the fact that in the conflict between Pope Gregor VII and the German King and Holy Roman Emperor Henry IV, for the right to appoint the highest clergy, the archbishop went after the pope. As a result, Archbishop Gebhard I fell out of favor, and was forced to flee, abandoning his principality and castles. Hohensalzburg Castle became a defensive structure to protect the ecclesiastical principality from external enemies. In 1500, Prince Archbishop Leonhard von Koitschach fortified and expanded the fortress's possessions to the size and appearance that have been preserved to this day.
From 1803 to 1816, the possessions of the archbishops of Salzburg passed from one state to another until they were recognized as lands of the Austrian Empire. After that, for several decades, warehouses, barracks, and prisons were located in the ancient castle, which did not favor the preservation of external and internal presentable appearance. By the end of the 19th century, the castle was restored and opened to the public. At the same time, a funicular was built that transported tourists to the castle.
During the Second World War, Salzburg was occupied by Nazi troops. The castle was used as a prison for prisoners of war and resistance activists. During the bombing, the sights of Salzburg, including the castle, were not damaged. Soon the castle became an important historical site of Salzburg, and its appearance was depicted on the coins of the Austrian state in different years.
Hohensalzburg Fortress today
Today, the fortress is a small town with about 20 buildings. It has its own bakery, 8 towers, a fire tower, a blacksmith shop, a church, a barn, a well and other buildings. Here you can wander through the narrow streets and spacious courtyards, climb the fortifications. You can get to the castle in a few minutes by funicular with trailers, or in half an hour walking along a steep serpentine trail.
Hohensalzburg Fortress Museums
The tour itself begins with the story of how a wooden fortress turned into a stone bastion, and an inspection of 7 historical models. Next, the route passes through the torture rooms, the prison tower. On the fourth floor there are the Prince's Chambers, which include the Prince's Hall, the Golden Hall and the Golden Chambers. The interior walls are luxuriously decorated with ornamental paintings, gilded carvings and Gothic carvings, which have been preserved since the beginning of the 16th century. The rich decoration, the 4-meter fireplace - all this testifies to the taste of the owners of the castle.
The archbishop's chambers are as luxurious as the Golden Chamber. The bedroom furniture is upholstered in expensive fabrics and precious stones, and the walls are lined with protective panels decorated with gold buttons at the top. There is a bathroom and a toilet next to the bedroom.
Hohensalzburg Castle houses two museums: in one of them you can trace the history of the Imperial Reiner regiment over several centuries. The museum was founded in 1924. The Fortress Museum houses historical exhibits, weapons, instruments of torture, Roman coins, a heating system, and the first telephone exchange. Of particular interest are the exhibits that relate to the life of Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Reitenau, who spent his last days in the dungeon of his own castle.
The symbol of the fortress is a lion holding a turnip in its paws. Today, the castle is not only a place for excursions, but also a meeting place for artists during the courses of the International Summer Academy. In the castle you can also visit the Puppet Museum, the Memorial Museum, the Old Arsenal.
