Hohensalzburg caught my fancy the moment we reached the Old Town in Salzburg. But we could visit it only on the third day of our stay, we were waiting for a clear, sunny day for a ride up to Festungsberg, the rock on which this castle stands.
There is no need for me to say that this is a not-to-miss attraction since, in any case, you will not be able to miss this imposing castle with its white outer facade on the north side of Salzburg, sitting like a crown on the head of Salzburg.
This 11th-century castle is one of the largest existing medieval castles in Europe and is a part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the City of Salzburg.
You will need about 2 to 3 hours for a ride up and back to the castle by funicular and to see the castle interiors.
Getting to Fortress Hohensalzburg
Fortress Hohensalzburg is unlike any other ornate baroque palaces that we have been seeing around Austria. The palace has a raw appeal, with its many ring walls and towers.
The best way to reach it is by taking the funicular. Walk towards Festungsgasse from Kapitelplatz in the Altstadt to take the funicular to the top.
You can also walk up the hill, it takes about 15 minutes but it's quite a steep uphill.
This video on our way down speaks for itself ....
The fortress complex has many attractions. The Basic ticket to the palace will include the funicular, ascent and descent, Bastions, Chapel, the Panorama Tour, Fortress Museum, Marionette Museum, Rainer Regimental Museum and the Armoury House.
There is an All-Inclusive Ticket also that includes all of the above plus the Princes' Chambers in the main castle and the magic theatre.
There are many other ticket options available, you can refer to their official website before your visit -
The funicular will take you right to the point where the fortress starts. There is a large open courtyard from where you will be greeted by stunning views of the baroque buildings of Salzburg all around and the Salsach River meandering its way through the city.
Things to see and do in Fortress Hohensalzburg
The fortress was built by the Archbishops of Salzburg as a display of their authority and power. The construction of the original fortress began in 1077 and many additions and improvisations took place in the years that followed.
Now, this impressive fortress complex houses many museums. You can start your tour with the Fortress Museum.
The museum is quite exhaustive with many interesting displays and their historical significance. How the fortress was made, how people lived in those times, the heating system of the fortress, weaponry, kitchen tools, and coins to name a few things, are a part of the museum's collection.
Followed by the Fortress Museum is the Marionette Museum. I have never seen such a vast collection of marionettes anywhere else.
The Museum of Rainer Regiment is dedicated to a celebrated regiment in Austria with the same name. There is a lot of war memorabilia like weapons, uniforms and photos on display.
My Tip -
A lot of interesting information and historical trivia is written on the placards placed around the museum. Even if you're not a history buff, you can easily spend an hour reading and exploring.
Apart from these 3 museums, there is a chapel open for visitors.
The Armoury is a fun place for families to spend some time. There is an interactive exhibition, fortress games and quizzes.
Like us, you can also click some embarrassingly childish photos like these.....tourists can do anything for fun!
The most interesting part of the fortress is the Panorama Tour which leads through a dungeon to a winding staircase up to a viewing platform to the top of the fortress.
There are 100-odd steps, we just kept climbing from one stairway to another. But once we reached the top, the views we got of the Alps were magnificent. So, it was worth the steep climb!
On the way back from the top, as you plan to leave the castle, you will be led through a maze of battlements that end in the Salzburg Bull.
I was pretty intrigued about the Salzburg Bull, so I'd read about it before we visited Hohensalzburg Castle.
Let me tell you, it's not a bull, it is a horn work, the oldest gothic-style working mechanical musical instrument in the world. Oldest because this instrument was commissioned in 1502 and it still works! The name Bull was given to it because the sound it created resembled the roar of a bull.
Every day the Salzburg Bull plays its melody at 7 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. People say that on a quiet day, this melody can be heard as far as the Residenzplatz in Old Town. We strained our ears to hear it at 6 p.m. the same day but sadly couldn't hear it.
You can take the funicular back to the Old Town. If you have a Salzburg Card, then this entire excursion will be included in it.
A model of Salzburg with the Hohensalzburg Castle in the background... made of salt!
A trip to Hohensalzburg Fortress is a beautiful journey back in time, topped with the glorious views it offers of the Austrian Alps!
Don't miss it during your stay in Salzburg. I would love to hear about your experience at the Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Comentarios