Burg Hohenwerfen

About the museum

Hohenwerfen Castle stands about 40 kilometres south of the city of Salzburg on a rocky cone roughly 155 metres high above Werfen. Archbishop Gebhard had it built around 1077 during the Investiture Controversy, at about the same time as Hohensalzburg Fortress and the castle on the Petersberg in Friesach. From initially simple fortifications, the main castle grew to its present size by the 15th century.

In the Peasants' War of 1525/26 rebellious peasants and miners occupied the castle, and it was damaged in the fighting. Under Archbishop Matthäus Lang and later Johann Jakob Khuen-Belasy, reconstruction and expansion followed on the model of Italian fortresses; in the 17th and 18th centuries Hohenwerfen served mainly as a prison.

After secularisation the complex fell into disrepair until Archduke Johann had it restored between 1824 and 1833. Archduke Eugen acquired it in 1898, expanded it into a princely seat with an art and weapons collection and had the Palas rebuilt after the great fire of 1931. In the Nazi era the castle was a Gau training castle, and from 1945 to 1987 a gendarmerie school.

Since 1987 Hohenwerfen has been open to visitors and is run by Salzburger Burgen & Schlösser on behalf of the Province. A visit includes the guided tour through the interiors, the flying displays of the historic Landesfalkenhof, the Austrian Falconry Museum and exhibitions on the history of the castle and its construction. The castle was also a filming location for films such as "Where Eagles Dare".

Highlights

• Guided castle tour with chapel, torture chamber and bell tower
• Birds-of-prey flying displays by the historic Landesfalkenhof
• Austrian Falconry Museum in the Wallerturm
• "Burgzeiten" exhibition in the Armoury
• Inclined lift up the 155-metre-high castle rock
• Children's audio guide and puzzle rally

Permanent exhibitions

• Burgzeiten – Exhibition in the Armoury about life in the castle from the late Middle Ages to the modern era, covering clothing, medicine and food, among other things; with children's stations.
• Österreichisches Falknereimuseum – In the Wallerturm: history and technique of falconry, species of birds of prey and historic falconry equipment from several continents.
• Baugeschichte der Burg – Models, animated film and photo panels in the casemate vault on the building phases up to the 16th century and the fire of 1931.

Founded

1987

Operated by

Salzburger Burgen & Schlösser Betriebsführung (Land Salzburg)

Visitors per year

approx. 167,933 (2025)

Admission & discounts

The entry shown is the Basic Ticket on foot (flying display, museums and exhibitions, without castle tour and lift); tickets €13.90–20.90 (from-prices). The interiors can only be seen with the castle tour. Surcharge for special events. Discounts only on site upon presentation of ID. Admission is included with the SalzburgerLand Card; the inclined lift is paid for separately on site. Tickets are available online and always on site as well; the time on the online ticket is the start of the castle tour.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Only the castle courtyard is barrier-free, reachable by the inclined lift; the footpath is too steep. The castle tour involves around 300 steps, and the way to the flying display a steep descent of 100 steps (after registration, a transfer by castle bus from the car park to the Lindenwiese is sometimes available). Burgschenke with two steps, exhibitions only via many steps. At the service centre in the castle courtyard there are tablets with a video tour of the interiors, also in sign language. Two disabled parking spaces at the entrance to the valley station; accessible toilets at the valley ticket office and in the castle courtyard near the administration.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's audio guide on the castle tour (German, English, Italian, Dutch, Danish, Hebrew), puzzle rally with booklet (€2 at the ticket office), children's knight tournament in fine weather on weekends and daily from 20 July to 21 August, children's birthday parties for ages 4 to 6 and 6 to 14. According to the castle, the castle tour is suitable for children from age 3. Pushchairs are only practical in the castle courtyard; a baby carrier is recommended.

Getting there & parking

By car via the Tauern Autobahn A 10: from the north take the Pass Lueg exit, then the B 159 southwards; from the south take the Pfarrwerfen/Werfen exit, then about two kilometres to the car park. Without a motorway vignette, use the Salzach Valley federal road B 159. Cycling up to the castle is not permitted.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

Burgschenke Hohenwerfen in the upper castle courtyard (castle garden, Knights' Hall in bad weather) with regional dishes, coffee, cake and ice cream; knight's banquets for groups by advance booking. An admission fee must be paid for the Burgschenke. Souvenirs in the Ritterladen. Bringing your own snack to the castle courtyard or the Lindenwiese is allowed. Dogs on a leash are welcome outdoors and at the flying display, but not on the castle tour.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 400 guests.

Castle courtyard (up to 400 people), Palas hall (up to 140 people), casemate vault, Burgschenke and two seminar rooms; weddings in the castle chapel or the Palas hall, civil ceremonies in the casemate vault or Princes' Chamber; film shoots also possible.

Plan your visit