Visitor guide
Fortress Hohenwerfen visitor guide — everything you need to know before visiting
Fortress Hohenwerfen is a 900-year-old clifftop castle above the Salzach valley near Werfen, 40 minutes south of Salzburg, famous for its Austrian Falconry Museum and its twice-daily birds-of-prey flight shows. This guide covers what's included, when to go and how to plan your day.
At a glance
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What your ticket includes
Every Hohenwerfen ticket covers the full castle tour with the bell tower and all interior rooms, the daily birds-of-prey flight demonstration, the Austrian Falconry Museum, and the exhibitions on the 1525/26 Peasants' War and the fortress's history. The only choice is how you reach the gate — by panorama lift or on foot up the path.
Planning your day
Time your visit around a flight show at 11:15 or 15:15 (with extra shows in high summer), and allow 2.5–3 hours overall. Mornings early and late in the season are quietest. Remember the fortress is closed on Mondays in April, October and November, and shut entirely over winter.
Getting there
Werfen is about 40 km south of Salzburg — 40 minutes by car on the A10 or 45 minutes by regional train. From the village, reach the fortress by the panorama lift or the 20-minute walking path.
Read the full guide: How to get to Fortress Hohenwerfen from Salzburg →
A short history
Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg began Hohenwerfen in 1075, during the Investiture Controversy between Pope and Emperor, as one of three fortresses guarding his mountain territory. Driven from Salzburg for backing the Pope, Gebhard died here in 1088. For centuries the fortress doubled as a state prison — its captives included Archbishop Adalbert III, seized by his own officials in 1198.
The birds of prey
Hohenwerfen's best-known attraction today is its falconry. The Austrian Falconry Museum sits within the walls, and falconers fly eagles, falcons, kites and vultures over the ramparts twice a day — a living link to the Alpine hunting tradition and the single most popular part of a visit.
The Peasants' War
In 1525 the farmers and miners of the southern Salzburg valleys rose up and marched on the city, setting fire to Hohenwerfen and taking the governor sent to subdue them prisoner in his own stronghold. An exhibition inside the fortress tells that revolt from the rebels' side.
On the silver screen
The fortress's dramatic silhouette has drawn filmmakers: it played the fictional Schloss Adler in the 1968 war film Where Eagles Dare, and appears behind the von Trapp children in the Do-Re-Mi sequence of The Sound of Music (1965).
Practical tips
Remember the fortress is seasonal — open April to early November and closed for winter, with Mondays closed in the shoulder months. Bring sturdy shoes for the cobbles and the path, a layer for the exposed ramparts, and time your day around one of the flight shows.
Frequently asked questions
Is the flight show included in the ticket?
Yes — the daily birds-of-prey demonstration is included with every ticket, at no extra charge.
Do we need to walk up?
Only if you choose the footpath ticket. The With Lift ticket includes a round trip on the panorama lift up to the gate.
Sources
This guide is written by the concierge team and cross-checked against the official operator every time we update it. Primary sources:
About our service
Hohenwerfen Castle Tickets is an independent concierge service. We are not affiliated with the fortress or its operator. We book your official admission on your behalf and deliver it by email; the ticket price reflects our booking service.
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