Festung Nauders

About the museum

Nauders Fortress, also called the Road Barrier or Hochfinstermünz Barrier, lies about two and a half kilometres northwest of Nauders in a narrow gorge on the road over the Finstermünz Pass. It was built between 1834 and 1840 in place of an older valley barrier wall; the inscription on the gable names Emperors Francis I and Ferdinand I. The complex was designed by Franz von Scholl, who also worked on the Franzensfeste. The fortress blocked the road from the Reschen Pass into the Inn Valley and was directed mainly against Switzerland.

The multi-storey building, clad in ashlar stone, is driven deep into the rock; some of the over 70 rooms lie up to 20 metres inside the mountain. The barrier was last made ready for defence in the First World War, but was never involved in combat and therefore remained almost unchanged. It is regarded as the only completely preserved fortified barrier of the old Austrian Empire on present-day Austrian territory. After 1945 it served as a depot, and in 1970 the Austrian Armed Forces gave up the property.

The Nauders Museum Association acquired the fortress in 1993 and later also the barracks opposite. A military museum with weapons, uniforms, equipment and vehicles has been set up in former crew quarters; staged scenes show the daily life of the garrison. There is also an exhibition by the Nauders Model Club. Visitors can also see the ammunition store, the cargo lift, the granite spiral staircase and the gun platform.

Highlights

• The only completely preserved fortified barrier of the old Austrian Empire in Austria
• Over 70 rooms, some up to 20 metres deep in the rock
• Military museum with weapons, uniforms, equipment and vehicles
• Replica of a fortress cannon of 1894
• Ammunition store, cargo lift and granite spiral staircase

Permanent exhibition

• Militärmuseum in der Festung – Weapons, uniforms, equipment and vehicles in the casemates, complemented by staged scenes of daily life in the fortress and an exhibition by the Nauders Model Club.

Operated by

Museumsverein Nauders

Admission & discounts

Admission includes the guided tour.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

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Getting there & parking

The fortress is located on the federal road about 2 km before Nauders (coming from the direction of the Finstermünz Pass/Pfunds).

Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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Plan your visit