Festung Kufstein

About the museum

The fortress above the Inn is first mentioned in documents in 1205, at that time as the property of the Bavarian duke and the Bishop of Regensburg. Because of its position at the entrance to the Inn Valley, it was contested between Bavaria and Tyrol for centuries: in 1342 Kufstein passed as a morning gift to Margarethe "Maultasch" and thus to Tyrol for the first time, but later fell back to Bavaria.

In the War of the Landshut Succession, King Maximilian I conquered the fortress in 1504 after heavy bombardment; from then on it belonged to the Habsburgs, and under Maximilian it acquired its present form. In the War of the Spanish Succession (1703/04) and in the Napoleonic era it came under Bavarian rule twice more, before Tyrol returned to Austria for good in 1814. A state prison was housed for a long time on the top floor of the Kaiserturm.

In 1924 the town of Kufstein bought the fortress from the Republic of Austria. Since 1931 the Heldenorgel has sounded in the Bürgerturm, an open-air organ commemorating the fallen of the First World War, which after several extensions has 4,948 pipes and was rededicated in 2022. Since the 1990s a municipal company (today Festung Kufstein GmbH) has run the restoration and visitor operations; the Panoramabahn, visitor centre and the Festungsarena, which can be roofed over, were added.

The Fortress and Local History Museum was redesigned in 1998, and in 2019, on the 500th anniversary of Maximilian's death, a permanent exhibition on the emperor opened. A tour with 21 stations also leads through the open area, the rock tunnel, the Deep Well and the Elisabeth Battery with cannons from the Museum of Military History.

Highlights

• Heldenorgel in the Bürgerturm, daily at 12 noon (in July/August also at 6 pm)
• Kaiserturm with museum in the former state prison
• Permanent exhibition on Emperor Maximilian I
• Well around 60 metres deep and underground rock tunnel
• Elisabeth Battery with historic cannons
• Panoramabahn from the town centre up to the fortress

Permanent exhibitions

• Kaiser Maximilian I. und seine Zeit – Since 2019 the exhibition traces the life of the Habsburg who conquered the fortress in 1504 and had it expanded, with exhibits and a digital emperor as narrator.
• Festungs- und Heimatmuseum – A colourful tour redesigned in 1998 through the history of the fortress and the town; closed in winter.
• Museum im Staatsgefängnis – On the top floor of the Kaiserturm, media stations and a prisoner hologram tell of the everyday life of the prisoners in the cells.

Founded

1205

Operated by

Festung Kufstein GmbH (Stadtgemeinde Kufstein und Stadtwerke Kufstein)

Director

Emanuel Präauer (Geschäftsführung)

Admission & discounts

All-in combination ticket: round trip on the Panoramabahn, all museums and exhibitions, open area, Heldenorgel performance, audio guide app, puzzle rally and Wi-Fi. Summer 2026 prices; in winter 2026/2027 adults €14, children/pupils and students €8. Different prices apply at the Knights' Festival at Whitsun.

Accessibility

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

Only partially barrier-free because of the historic construction; from the visitor centre the Panoramabahn Kaiser Maximilian leads up to the open area. Some areas cannot be reached by wheelchair; prior consultation with the fortress administration is recommended. The Kaiserturm and Festungsarena are accessible for events (registration requested).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's and school tours (75–90 minutes, in historical costume on request), workshops for ages 6 to 13 and children's birthday parties with a treasure hunt in the footsteps of Emperor Max (ages 4–13, €120 plus admission). The smartphone puzzle rally "Wettkampf um Kufstein" with eight stations is included in admission and recommended from age 10.

Getting there & parking

Main entrance with visitor centre and ticket office in the town centre behind the parish church of St. Vitus, near the town hall; the way up is by Panoramabahn. By car via the A93 or A12; the motorway is vignette-free from the German border to the Kufstein Süd exit.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop
• Wi-Fi

Festungswirtschaft with parlours and castle garden (accessible during opening hours only with an admission ticket); fortress shop in the visitor centre; Wi-Fi throughout the open area.

Events & venue rental

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

Up to 4,200 guests.

Festungsarena with movable roof (up to 4,200 guests), Kaiserturm with entrée, fencing and tournament room (lounge) and Bombardiergewölbe (up to 300 people), former castle chapel; civil weddings in the tournament and fencing room with up to 150 guests.

Plan your visit