Hohenwerfen Castle is a medieval stone fortress, located at 623 meters high

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27-Feb-2026 03 am

Hohenwerfen Castle is a medieval stone fortress, located at 623 meters high on a rocky outcrop that overlooks the Austrian town of Werfen in the Salzach valley, south of Salzburg. The fortress is encircled by the Tennen Mountains and the Berchtesgaden Alps nearby. The castle gained worldwide recognition as the primary setting in the movie Where Eagles Dare. Constructed from 1075 to 1078 at the request of Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg amid the Imperial Investiture Controversy, the fortification served as a tactical stronghold on a 155-metre high rock. Gebhard, a supporter of Pope Gregory VII and the anti-king Rudolf of Rheinfelden, had three significant castles expanded to protect the pass through the Eastern Alps along the Salzach river against forces of King Henry IV of Germany. Nonetheless, King Henry had Gebhard banished in 1077, and the archbishop was unable to return to Salzburg until 1086, only to pass away at Hohenwerfen two years afterwards. In the subsequent centuries, Hohenwerfen functioned for rulers of Salzburg, the prince-archbishops, not only as a fortress but also as a dwelling and hunting lodge. The castle was enlarged in the 12th century and to a smaller degree once more in the 16th century. In 1525 and 1526, rebellious farmers and miners from the southern region of Salzburg advanced towards the city, setting fire to and significantly damaging the castle. Alternatively, it served as a state penitentiary and thus carried a somewhat dark reputation. The prison walls have seen the unfortunate destinies of numerous inmates who endured their days there – possibly their final ones – in brutal circumstances; additionally, from time to time, various prominent noble figures, including leaders like Archbishop Adalbert III, have been incarcerated there. In 1931, the fortress, which had been owned by Archduke Eugen of Austria since 1898, suffered damage from a fire and, although mostly restored, ultimately had to be sold to the Salzburg Reichsgau administration in 1938. At present, the bastion operates as a museum. The fortress features various attractions, including guided tours of its vast weapons collection, the historical Salzburg Falconry along with its falconry museum, and a tavern situated in the fortress. The renowned Falconry Centre is a unique venue, providing daily demonstrations of flight featuring a range of birds of prey, such as eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures. The castle was previously owned by the House of Habsburg. The state of Salzburg now owns the estate. #History #Architecture #Castles

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