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Salzburg: Hohensalzburg Fortress Admission Ticket
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The Salzburg Fortress, also known as Festung Hohensalzburg, dominates the entire Austrian city from the top of the Festungsberg. From up there, a beautiful panorama of the city centre and its surroundings can be admired. Considered the symbol of Salzburg, the fortress is considered one of the largest and best preserved in Europe. The complex, in fact, covers an area of approximately 7,000 square metres, which rises to 14,000 square metres if the ramparts are also taken into account
The fortress was built around the 11th century by Salzburg archbishop Gebhard, who wanted to build a church and dwelling here, all surrounded by high walls. The archbishop, however, was exiled and the complex was completed by his successors. Thus it was only between the 12th and 13th centuries that the fortress took on its current appearance.
Today, there are museum sites inside the castle that tell the story of the city of Salzburg and the lives of the prince archbishops who lived there. In particular, several rooms can be admired that have retained their original 16th century furnishings and numerous valuable paintings.
The Salzburg Fort ress is a complex consisting of several buildings, an inner courtyard and an imposing wall. The tour inside provides an insight into the history of the city and its major figures.
The Fortress Museum is a site that collects objects and evidence on the history and function of the complex. The site was opened in 1952 and is now one of the most visited museums in Austria. It is now possible to learn more about the function of the fortress over the years as well as the culture and history of Salzburg.
Also located within the complex is the Marionette Museum, which mainly attracts families as it is a destination that appeals to both adults and children. Several historical puppets from Salzburg’s famous puppet theatre are now on display here. For example, Papageno and Papagena from Mozart’s opera The Magic Flute can be admired here.
Fans of historical events should not miss the Rainer Regiment Museum, which in eight exhibition rooms tells the story of the former Salzburg Regiment, the ‘Archduke Rainer’ Infantry Unit No. 59. This regiment is remembered as one of the most loyal to the Austrian emperor. In addition to weapons, uniforms and photographs of the soldiers, the military successes and sacrifices of these men are recounted. In addition, it is possible to learn about the experiences of the soldiers of the Rainer regiment during the First World War when around 5,000 soldiers lost their lives.
Finally, a visit to the historical armoury is not to be missed. This is a museum that allows visitors to learn about the evolution of armour and weapons through interactive tours.
The Princes’ Rooms (Fürstenzimmer), which include the Princes’ Hall, the Golden Stube and the Golden Room, are part of an area of the fortress that has managed to preserve most of the original 16th-century rooms. In particular, the Golden Stube is one of the most sumptuous rooms in the flats and houses the period tiled stove.
The bedroom has also retained some of its splendour. The room is panelled in wood, which also served to insulate it from the cold, and has an upper part decorated with gilded buttons and rosettes, while the lower part is now bare whereas it was once covered with leather or velvet upholstery.
There are several tickets to visit the Fortress and the ticket costs vary depending on the type of ticket purchased.
You can save on ticket prices by walking up and down the fortress. If you buy your ticket online, there are also fast-track access to the Fortress.
The Fortress is, together with the Mozart House, the most visited attraction in Salzburg. If you want to avoid queues at the ticket offices, buy your ticket directly online.
The Salzburg Card includes free admission to all the city’s museums, including the Fortress, and allows you unlimited use of public transport, including the funicular to the Fortress and the Untersberg cable car.
Is there a better way to visit the Fortress than by listening to a classical music concert? Take your pick, it is an experience not to be missed if you are a connoisseur!
The visiting hours of the Fortress change depending on the time of year:
Construction of the Fortress began around 1077 when Salzburg Archbishop Gebhard ordered the building of a church flanked by a dwelling, the centrepiece of which was a tower that still forms the core of the ‘upper floor’. Towards the end of the 11th century, Archbishop Gebhard was sent into exile, so the construction of the complex was continued first by the anti-archbishop of imperial appointment, Berthold von Moosburg, and then by Archbishop Konrad von Abensberg. Over the centuries, successive archbishops carried out various works on the fortress, especially with regard to the reinforcement of the walls.
During the time of Archbishop Burkhard von Weißpriach in the mid-15th century, four new towers were built: the bell tower, the trumpeter tower, the grass tower and the blacksmith’s or prisoners’ tower. Over the years, internal renovations were also carried out, in particular Archbishop Johann Beckenschlager converted the upper floor into a four-storey residential building. Later, the first arsenal, a granary and a cistern were built to improve the water supply in the event of a siege.
With the arrival of Napoleon’s army in Salzburg, the city did not organise any resistance against the French, so the Hohensalzburg fortress was not demolished. By the end of the 19th century, however, the complex was abandoned and in the following years was used first as a depot and then as barracks and a prison.
The Salzburg Fort ress can be reached via a convenient funicular railway that departs from the city centre every ten minutes. The journey to the fortress takes about 1 minute. Alternatively, it is possible to reach the site via an uphill footpath that takes about 20 minutes on foot. It is not possible to reach the Salzburg Fortress by car.
The Salzburg Fortress is located on top of the Festungsberg and dominates the entire Austrian city from above.
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