Medieval fortress above the Salzach gorge near Werfen, founded 1077. Daily falconry displays in summer included in the ticket. Filming location for Where Eagles Dare (1968). A strong day trip 40 km south of Salzburg, combinable with the Eisriesenwelt ice caves.
The Story
The same archbishop who founded Hohensalzburg Fortress in 1077 built Festung Hohenwerfen the same year. The two fortresses guarded the Salzach corridor at opposite ends: one above the city, one 40 km south where the valley narrows to a gorge. The logic was strategic; the result, viewed from the train or road below, looks like something out of a tale.
Hohenwerfen rises on a sheer rock above the river. The walls and towers that visitors see today incorporate medieval stonework, Renaissance modifications, and Baroque additions layered over nine centuries of continuous use. The archbishops retreated here when Salzburg felt unsafe. Later, it served as a prison. In 1968 a film crew arrived to shoot Where Eagles Dare with Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton, and the fortress's rock-face setting did most of the dramatic work.
The daily falconry demonstrations in summer are the detail that elevates a good fortress visit into a genuinely memorable half-day. Eagles and falcons fly free above the gorge, launched from the courtyard walls against a backdrop of the Tennen and Hagengebirge peaks. The display is included in the standard admission price.
The fortress pairs naturally with the Eisriesenwelt ice caves, a short drive further south, for a full day in the Werfen area.
Visiting
Located above Werfen village, approximately 40 km south of Salzburg. Open daily April through November; closed in winter. Admission currently around EUR 15-18 for adults, including the falconry display. Reach the base by a steep climb from the car park or by the Erlebnis-Aufzug lift. Allow two to three hours for fortress, museum, and falconry show. By train from Salzburg Hauptbahnhof to Werfen station (approximately 40 minutes), then 15 minutes on foot to the fortress base. Combines well with the Eisriesenwelt on the same day.