A castle on the choke point
It commands the narrow pass that was the only route south from Salzburg.
C.Stadler/Bwag โ CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Diego Delso โ CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Diego Delso โ CC BY-SA 4.0 ยท Diego Delso โ CC BY-SA 4.0
Check the display schedule on the official site before going and plan to arrive about an hour before one, so you see the castle first and then the display. The shows run at set times rather than continuously, and arriving after the last one means losing half the value.
You can, but it makes a very long day. The Eisriesenwelt ice caves are in the same town and need a full half day with a steep climb. Combining both in one day is genuinely exhausting โ with two days, separate them.
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An eleventh-century castle on a rock rising some hundred and fifty-five metres above the Salzach valley, ringed by the Tennengebirge and Hagengebirge ranges on either side. The position is everything: the castle commands a narrow pass that was the only route south from Salzburg, which is why it was built. The view from the walls explains the geography immediately โ a narrow valley between two mountain masses, with a fortress sitting on the choke point. What sets it apart from Austria's other castles is the falconry: a historic centre for hunting with birds of prey runs daily displays in season, flying eagles, falcons and owls out over the valley. That display is what many visitors come for, and it is usually included in the ticket. Practical points: the climb from the car park to the castle is steep on foot, and an inclined lift runs for an extra fare. The castle is seasonal and usually closes in winter, and the falconry displays run at set times โ check the schedule before going, since it is half the reason.
It commands the narrow pass that was the only route south from Salzburg.
A historic centre for hunting with birds of prey, usually included in the ticket.
The climb from the car park is steep โ the lift costs extra and saves the effort.
Werfen, about forty kilometres south of Salzburg