Fort Kniepass

About the museum

The narrow gorge of the Saalach near Unken, on the border with Bavaria, was first mentioned in documents around 1350 as “Chniepoz”. Because the narrow path along the river was often impassable during floods, Archbishop Markus Sittikus had it widened by blasting rock in the early 17th century. In 1621, in the middle of the Thirty Years’ War, Archbishop Paris Lodron expanded the pass into a fortress with a gatehouse and a garrison building.

Because there was never any fighting in the area, the complex remained largely in its original condition. Later it served ceremonial purposes and as a shooting station, and for a long time hunters and foresters also lived there. The fortress is owned by the State of Salzburg and was little known to the general public for a long time.

From October 2023, Salzburger Burgen und Schlösser, which also looks after Hohensalzburg Fortress, Hohenwerfen Castle and Mauterndorf Castle, carefully renovated the complex. A new visitor centre with a restaurant, shop and indoor playground was built in the valley. On 27 June 2025, the fortress opened as Fort Kniepass.

Today an adventure trail with twelve stations on the theme of “borders” leads from the valley up to the fortification, where an exhibition tells the story of the border post. The way back down to the valley is on foot or by a 150-metre tube slide; concerts and theatre performances take place in the open-air arena.

Highlights

• Border fortress of 1621 with gatehouse and garrison building in largely original condition
• KniePASS adventure trail with twelve stations on the theme of borders and a puzzle booklet
• Exhibition on the history of the border post inside the fortress
• Viper Slide: 150-metre dry tube slide from the fort down to the valley
• Open-air arena with a stage for concerts and theatre

Permanent exhibitions

• Ausstellung zur Geschichte des Kniepasses – In the renovated fortress buildings, the focus is on the role of the pass as a fortified border post of the Archbishopric of Salzburg and on border security in the region.
• Erlebnisweg KniePASS – Grenzen entdecken – Twelve artistically designed stations along the ascent address natural, political, linguistic and personal borders, accompanied by a puzzle booklet for adults and children.

Founded

2025

Operated by

Salzburger Burgen & Schlösser Betriebsführung (Land Salzburg)

Admission & discounts

The path up is free of charge; a ticket is required for the KniePASS puzzle game and the interior rooms of the fortress. Online tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. Dogs do not pay admission. The indoor playground in the visitor centre is free of charge.

Accessibility

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

The restaurant and shop in the visitor centre are accessible; the wheelchair-accessible toilets in the basement can be reached by lift. The fortress itself cannot be reached by wheelchair via the steep, gravelled theme trail, and there are steps and stairs in the fortress buildings, courtyard and open-air arena. Disabled parking spaces in car park 1 by the restaurant; paved path from the bus stop. Assistance dogs on a lead are permitted.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Children collect rock pictures and solve puzzles along the twelve stations with their own KniePASS booklet. Indoor playground (80 m²) in the visitor centre and a playground in the beer garden; the slide is permitted from a height of 130 cm. Children’s birthday parties for up to 10 children aged 6 to 12. Pushchairs can get up via a signposted forest road, but there are steep stairs in the fortress itself.

Getting there & parking

On the B178 directly after the village of Unken; from the north via the A8, exit Bad Reichenhall – Lofer, and onwards via the B20/B21. About 40 km from Salzburg and 45 km from Zell am See. Cyclists reach the fort via the Tauern Cycle Path (Saalach Valley route) and the Mozart Cycle Path.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museum shop

“Fort Kulinarik” restaurant in the visitor centre (over 80 seats, beer garden) with regional cuisine and fermented specialities, plus a bistro with takeaway food and a shop with regional products. Fermentation workshops in the fermentation centre.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 450 guests.

Nature arena with open-air stage in the fortress (up to 450 people, in fine weather only) and the Fort Kulinarik restaurant (up to 120 people); company outings and Christmas parties as packages.

Plan your visit