Visiting Hohensalzburg Fortress — All You Need to Know
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Of all the landmarks and fascinating historical sites I’ve come across in Salzburg, the Hohensalzburg Fortress stands out as one of the most beautiful places in city to explore.
And as a wanderer, I find that it has everything I’m looking for in a destination. This 11th-century fortress boasts marvelous architecture, breathtaking views of the mountains, and unique discoveries, all while whispering tales of intriguing past events.
There are lots of good reasons to visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress. However, If you want to get the most out of your visit, there are some important things you should know. I’ll share them with you. Our focus? The must-see and must-do inside Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Good to know
I mentioned: breathtaking views. From the fortress? Yes, this fortress offers plenty, given its location atop a mountain.
In fact, if you will have a walking tour of Old Town Salzburg, you’ll find that the Hohensalzburg Fortress is the landmark that most often graces the view when you look up from the streets.
Remarkably, you can also find a musical experience at the Hohensalzburg Fortress, similar to other attractions in the city like the Mirabell Palace and Salzburg Cathedral.
While the Hohensalzburg Fortress may not be one of the filming locations for the Sound of Music movie (a film based on the story of a family who lived in Salzburg), it’s just a short walk away from Nonnberg Abbey, which is.
Iconic shots of Hohensalzburg Fortress
Features & Attractions
If you’ve learned about the history and facts of Hohensalzburg Fortress, you might already know about the exciting things you can find and do there.
In summary, Hohensalzburg Fortress has many points of interest, such as:
- the Princely Chambers,
- dungeon,
- the Bull of Salzburg,
- the funicular railway, and more.
As mentioned earlier, it also offers breathtaking views of the city and the Alps. There are viewpoints, including bastions, courtyards, and restaurants, where you can take a break and relax.
Inside the fortress, you can find museums and several exhibitions to explore. If you’re interested in learning something new, there’s plenty to discover.
If you time your visit to Hohensalzburg Fortress just right, you might even be able to attend a concert in the fortress’s most beautiful room.
Following this list of activities at Hohensalzburg Fortress, you’ll come across more photos that are sure to fuel your desire to visit Hohensalzburg Fortress!
1. Princely Chambers & Magic Theater
If you’re like me and enjoy marveling at old-world architecture, the Princely Chambers should be at the top of your list when visiting Hohensalzburg Fortress.
The Princely Chambers are an architectural highlight of the fortress, boasting a unique secular Gothic-style that is among the best-preserved in Europe.
You might find these interesting!
2. The Armory
As a tourist attraction from the medieval ages, Hohensalzburg Fortress offers a variety of discoveries, giving insights into what life was like back then.
It includes the different armors, guns, canons, weapons, and accessories that were used to defend the fortress from any enemies. You can find them in the armor exhibition which was opened to the public in 2019.
3. The Panorama Tour
Much like the Princely Chambers, the Panorama Tour is a highlight of a visit to Hohensalzburg Fortress.
If you join the tour, you’ll gain access to five distinct areas within the fortress. The Panorama Tour starts at the Salt Depot, takes you up to the Dungeon and Viewing Platform, and then leads you down to the Salzburg Bull via the Battlement Walkway.
4. The Fortress Museum
Ready for a blast from the past? Head on over to the Fortress Museum, located in the “Hoher Stock” wing of the Hohensalzburg Fortress, and explore the history of Salzburg and the function of the fortress.
With twelve rooms, each dedicated to a different topic, you’ll have plenty to discover.
5. Rainer Regiment Museum
Hohensalzburg Fortress is mostly about the Prince Archbishops. However, it doesn’t mean that you can’t discover something from recent history during your visit.
Did you know that this place has housed the Rainer Regiment Museum since 1924? (to honor the memory of the former Salzburg house regiment, the Imperial and Royal Infantry Regiment ‘Archduke Rainer’ No. 59.)
6. Marionette Museum
One of the fun and surprising offerings of the Hohensalzburg Fortress is the Marionette Museum in the Prince’s Cellars of the fortress.
The museum displays many historical marionettes from the world-famous Salzburg Marionette Theater and offers many highlights for you to enjoy.
7. Join the Different Castle Events
As you may have discovered a while ago, you can experience classical music in a unique and historic setting by attending a Salzburg Fortress Concert.
Held in the magnificent chambers of Fortress Hohensalzburg, these concerts have been delighting audiences for over 40 years.
Pictures Inside & Outside the Fortress
Visiting Information
You’re visiting Hohensalzburg Fortress?! Well, I’m excited for you!
Tickets
There are four types of tickets available for Hohensalzburg Fortress. Your overall experience at the fortress will depend on the type of ticket you choose. Let me guide you on what to choose.
Basically:
- If you have the Basic Ticket with Fortress Railway or the All-Inclusive Ticket with Fortress Railway, you can take advantage of the roundtrip funicular ride included in the ticket package to reach Hohensalzburg Fortress quickly. The funicular runs every 10 minutes and takes about a minute to reach the top.
- The Basic Pathway Ticket and the All-Inclusive Pathway Ticket do not include the funicular ride up the hill to the Fortress. If you purchase either of these tickets, you need to hike up the hill to reach Hohensalzburg Fortress. Depending on how fast you walk, hiking can take 15 to 20 minutes.
While the path to Hohensalzburg Fortress is scenic, I still suggest buying tickets that include a roundtrip funicular ride. The 4-dollar upgrade is worth the convenience and time saved from hiking uphill.
You can check the current price of Hohensalzburg Fortress Tickets (with funicular roundtrip ride) here.
If you’re wondering what’s the difference between basic and all-inclusive tickets: basic tickets cover access to the Fortress Museum, Rainer Regiment Museum, Marionette Museum, Armoury, Panorama Tour, and courtyards, bastions, and chapel. Princely Chambers and Magic Theater are excluded.
On the other hand, you are allowed to explore all parts of the fortress if you have the all-inclusive tickets.
Get your Hohensalzburg Fortress Tickets here.
While you can enter Hohensalzburg Fortress with regular tickets, there are more ways you can spend time in the fortress and have a memorable experience. Below, I’ll let you know about more options.
Sources
If you’re interested in learning more about the fortress, its history, and visiting information, please refer to the resources listed below. These resources offer a wealth of information that will help you make the most of your visit to Hohensalzburg Fortress.
- Salzburg Museum official website (Fortress Museum)
- Rainer Regiment Museum official website
- Marionette Museum official website
- Events at Hohensalzburg Castle
- Official website of Hohensalzburg Castle
- All experiences in Salzburg with Hohensalzburg Castle
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