The Hohensalzburg Fortress.

Wonderful inner courtyards, inviting terraces and a picturesque castle fountain give you a flavour of the Middle Ages.

The city's magnificent landmark rises above the towers of the city of Mozart: the 900-year-old Hohensalzburg Fortress is Europe's largest and best-preserved castle complex! A real eye-catcher, it can be seen from afar and is an unmistakable part of Salzburg's skyline. It appears mighty to visitors from afar, and history can be experienced up close behind its thick walls. Built by Archbishop Gebhard during the investiture dispute in 1077, the fortress served to protect the clergy and the population in the Middle Ages.

You can reach the fortress from Kapitelplatz via Festungsgasse, from where you can either take the fortress railway (runs approx. every 10 minutes) or walk up to the fortress in approx. 30 minutes. Once at the top, you have a marvellous view of the city and the province of Salzburg.

The best way to experience the entire visitor offer is with the Fortress Card: as part of a castle tour with state-of-the-art audio guides (in eight languages), you can visit the unique royal rooms, the Salzburg Bull (500-year-old barrel organ), battlements, the torture chamber, the Romanesque lower chapel (11th century) and the castle chapel, where you can also get married. The castle and Rainer Regiment Museum, an impressive multivision show and a puppet museum round off the visitor attractions.

Afterwards, the castle restaurant with two shady guest gardens and magnificent views over the entire city centre of Salzburg invites you to relax. The famous and popular fortress concerts take place in the stylish setting of the Fürstenzimmer.