Hohenwerfen Fortress towers majestically atop a 100-m elevation high above the Salzach Valley: It served as a defensive fortification and prison over the centuries. As one of the best preserved buildings of the late Middle Ages, it offers fascinating insights into architectural history and life in the fortress. For children there is a fun treasure hunt and an audio guide in six languages. The spectacular demonstrations with local raptors by falconers of the historical state falconry several times a day are among the visitor highlights.
A guided tour of the fortress includes a visit to the fortress chapel and the pitch kitchen, the torture chamber, the dungeon and the large arsenal. After passing through the battlements with a view of the courtyard visitors climb up to the belfry boasting an impressive bell weighing more than 4,400 kilograms that still rings today on important religious holidays. The tour is available by audio guide in eleven languages for non-German-speaking visitors. Children can opt for a new drama tour by audio guide featuring the two mascots, Jaki and Bärbel, in German, Italian, English, Dutch, Danish and Hebrew. The interactive children's treasure hunt includes seven stations, kids can explore on their own throughout the fortress grounds: Once all the questions have been answered and all the puzzles solved, there's a little surprise waiting in the medieval shop.
Several times daily on the large Linden Meadow spectacular flight demonstrations take place with the eagles, hawks and buzzards of the Historical State Falconry Center, the fortress is home to Austria's first Falconry Museum. Throughout the year there is a jam-packed calendar of events with night tours, special falconry programs, festivals and an Advent market. The fortress tavern offers refreshments and can be rented for private medieval events. Hohenwerfen Fortress is only a 30-minute drive from the city of Salzburg on the freeway It takes approximately 30 minutes to walk to the fortress on the "Vogel-tennweg" or you can use the elevator.
