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The
Festung can be reached by cable car from the Old Town or by walking up the
Festungsgasse, which is located on the south side of the Kapitelplatz. The cable car
station (Festungbahn) is just a short distance up Festungsgasse and is easy
to miss if you are not looking for it. 
The cars leave every ten minutes for the short, but steep ascent to the
Fortress.
If you decide to walk to the Festung, you will find that the views of
Salzburg from the path are worthwhile, but the long uphill walk is
steep and takes approximately thirty-minutes (allowing for several picture
breaks).
Once you have arrived, you will find the views of the city and its surrounds
from the Fortress are inspiring and, in good
weather, you may spend the majority of your visit taking that perfect
picture of Salzburg's Old Town. Once you have taken your photos of the
city, it is time to start your tour
of the Fortress.
An audio guide is available in several languages and a multimedia show,
called the Multivision Show, plays every few minutes. The Multivision
presentation includes some spectacular aerial views of the fortress as well
as a succinct review of its history and restoration efforts currently
underway.
The Festung was built over several centuries, as battlements, towers and other
quarters were added to the core fortress that was built in 1077 by Prince Gebhard I. The initial construction (as well as that of nearby Castle Werfen) was
built to create a defensive fortress to protect the lands of the Archbishop
who had sided with the Pope during a controversy about whether the Pope or royalty had the
right to appoint bishops. Most of the Fortress we see today was constructed well after the
controversy was settled. Major enhancements were added during the 15th and
16th centuries.
Areas of the Fortress open for touring
include the Gallery, Torture Chamber, Observation Tower, the Rainer
Regiment Museum, the State Rooms and the Fortress Museum. Most of the
areas on the tour were part of the Hoher Stock or Castle Keep, which is
where the Prince Archbishops lived when in residence.
 The
"Torture Chamber" is one of the most popular stops on the tour. There
are a number of displays showing the implements of torture used at the time,
including the "uncomfortable" chair shown at the right. It looks
remarkably like our airplane seat during a recent research trip to Europe.
The Museum and the State Rooms are the leading attractions and include a
number of delightful finds. Some of the objects, especially the
furniture and the ceramic
stoves, are excellent example of medieval artisanship, as is the artwork
found in the personal chapels There are
several layers of the Hohensalzburg that can be toured, including a bailey,
observation or lookout tower, St. Georges Chapel
and other attractions. Click here for more information on the Fortress
from the
Official Website
for Salzburg’s civic landmarks.
Click this link to take a
photo tour of the Festung and
preview some of the scenes you will see on your visit
 Either
ride or walk down the hill to the Old Town and head towards the Dom. The Residenz will be
in front of you as cross the Domplatz. You can tour the State Rooms
and the Residenz Gallery. We suggest you tour the State Rooms first
and, then, head for the Gallery if you are interested
Follow the signs to the State Rooms to begin your tour. Be sure to get a personal audio
guide (available in 7 languages) at the entry desk, as it contains
interesting details on each of chambers you will visit.
The location of the Residenz
has been in use as a bishop’s palace since the 12th Century. The building
you can explore today is largely a 17th century creation built over, around
or simply replacing earlier architecture. It is the interior of the
building, however, that is the attraction.
Although the Residenz is a large
structure, only a modest number of rooms are available for touring.
The quality of these rooms, as evidenced by their decorations and furnishings,
is outstanding.
The State Apartments (both
meeting rooms and personal quarters) reflect the splendor with which the
Prince-Archbishops surrounded themselves. There are fifteen "apartments"
on the tour and each offers something unique. You will see many beautiful
items and decorative styles during your tour. The styling is a combination
of Baroque, Classical and Renaissance that reflects the taste of the various
Prince-Bishops who were stewards of the building during a three-hundred year
period.
Click this link to take a
photographic tour of the Residenz and preview some of the sights you
will see on your visit.
In addition to the state apartments, the Residenz also hosts the
Residence Gallery, an art museum featuring a significant collection of
European art from the 16th to the 19th centuries. You can purchase a ticket
to visit either the State Apartments or the Gallery or a combination ticket for
both attractions. Click here for the
official website
of the Salzburg Residenz.
For devotees of art, the Rupertinum Museum of Modern Art and the Moncheberg
Museum of Modern Art (the modest, but noticeable building on the side of the
hill to the northwest) have interesting, but not must-see collections of
modern art and graphics. These museums operate as a pair and more
information about them is available at the official website
http://www.museumdermoderne.at/
.
One final note, the Festival Halls for the Salzburger Festspiele facilities
are located in the Old Town at the foot of the Monchberg (and diagonally
across from the Fransizkanerkirche). These buildings, which include
the House for Mozart, were purpose-built to host the Festspiele and the area
they occupy has now become known as the Festival District. There is
not much of interest here, unless the Festspiele is being held.
Next - The
Mirabel Palace, the Mozart Residence and more.
Or -
Hellbrunn Palace and its Water Gardens
Or -
Return to our Salzburg Home Page
Or -
Return to Best Places to Visit in Austria
If you need information about another travel destination, try
our
Destination Guide Index
or Googling ThereArePlaces.
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