Hohenwerfen Castle, Medieval fortress in Werfen, Austria
Hohenwerfen is a medieval fortress on a rock above the Salzach valley near Werfen in Austria. Tall stone walls with watchtowers surround a central courtyard, while narrow passages and staircases connect different levels of the complex.
Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg had the fortress built between 1075 and 1078 during the Investiture Controversy as a defensive structure. Later expansions and rebuilding over the centuries changed much of the original construction.
The name comes from old German words meaning high rock or stone, and today the fortress hosts falconry displays where trainers work with birds of prey. Guests watch these birds fly overhead and respond to commands during scheduled demonstrations throughout the day.
The fortress opens between April and November, and visitors reach it either by elevator from the parking area or on foot through forest paths. Audio guides in nine languages explain the rooms and exhibits during the tour.
The falconry museum displays old hunting equipment and explains the history of bird hunting in the Alps. Visitors see gloves, hoods and traps that falconers used over centuries.
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