Hohenwerfen Castle

Hohenwerfen stands on a wooded knoll in the middle of the Salzach valley, with the Tennengebirge on one side and the Hagengebirge on the other, which is why every ruler of Salzburg since the eleventh century wanted to hold it. The building you see is largely sixteenth-century, rebuilt after fire, and it has been restored as a working visitor castle rather than a museum of furniture. The main draw beyond the walls is the falconry centre, which flies eagles, vultures and falcons from the meadow below the keep several times a day. The ramped approach, the courtyards and the bell tower fill an afternoon.

History

Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg had the fortress built between 1075 and 1078, in the Investiture Controversy, as one of three castles, with Hohensalzburg and Petersberg at Friesach, guarding the route across the Eastern Alps against King Henry IV; Henry had him driven out in 1077, and he could return only in 1086, dying at Hohenwerfen two years later. The prince-archbishops used it as a base, a residence and a hunting retreat and extended it in the 12th century, peasants and miners from the south of Salzburg set fire to it and badly damaged it in 1525 and 1526, and it also served as a state prison (Wikipedia, Hohenwerfen Castle).

What you'll find

• The falconry displays - eagles, vultures and falcons flown over the meadow below the walls.
• The keep and bell tower - the climb to the top and the view along the Salzach valley.
• The castle courtyards - the ramped approach, gates and inner yards of a hill fortress in use.
• The falconry museum - the collection on the long history of hunting with birds in the Alps.

When to go

The falconry displays are the reason to time a visit, and they run only in season, usually late morning and mid afternoon. Check the day's schedule before setting out, since it shifts with weather and daylight. Spring and autumn are much quieter than July and August. The valley is often clouded early and clears by noon.

Good to know

The lift up costs extra and the walking path is steep and shadeless. Interiors are sparsely furnished, so the ticket really buys the setting and the birds. If the falconry is cancelled for wind or rain, the visit loses its centre. Coach parties arrive in the middle of the day and fill the small courtyards.

Nearby

The Eisriesenwelt ice caves are on the opposite side of the valley above Werfen.

Key facts