The fortification was built between 1075 and 1078 at the behest of Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg during the Imperial Investiture Controversy, meant as a strategic bulwark atop a high rock. Gebhard, an ally of Pope Gregory VII and the anti-king Rudolf of Rheinfelden, had three major castles extended to secure the route across the Eastern Alps along the Salzach river against the forces of King Henry IV of Germany: Hohenwerfen, Hohensalzburg and Petersberg Castle at Friesach in Carinthia. Nevertheless, King Henry had Gebhard expelled in 1077 and the archbishop could not return to Salzburg until 1086, only to die at Hohenwerfen two years later. : Festung Hohenwerfen, 1827/28 In the following centuries Hohenwerfen served Salzburg's rulers, the prince-archbishops, not only as a military base but also as a residence and hunting retreat. The fortress was extended in the 12th century and to a lesser extent again in the 16th century during the German Peasants' War, when in 1525 and 1526 riotous farmers and miners from the south of Salzburg moved towards the city, laying fire and severely damaging the castle. Alternatively it was used as a state prison and therefore had a somewhat sinister reputation. Its prison walls have witnessed the tragic fate of many 'criminals' who spent their days there – maybe their last – under inhumane conditions, and, periodically, various highly ranked noblemen have also been imprisoned there including rulers such as Archbishop Adalbert III, arrested by his own ministeriales in 1198; Count Albert of Friesach ; the Styrian governor Siegmund von Dietrichstein, captured by insurgent peasants in 1525; and Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich Raitenau, who died here in 1617 after six years of imprisonment. In 1931 the fortress, owned by Archduke Eugen of Austria since 1898, was again damaged by a fire and, though largely restored, finally had to be sold to the Salzburg Reichsgau administration in 1938. In World War II, the castle served as a Gauführerschule, a nazi education camp under Gauleiter administration. After the war it was used as a training camp by the Austrian Gendarmerie until 1987. Currently, the bastion functions as a museum. Among the numerous attractions offered by the fortress are guided tours showing its extensive weapons collection, the historical Salzburg Falconry with the falconry museum as well as a fortress tavern. The historic Falconry Centre is a special attraction, offering daily flight demonstrations using various birds of prey, including eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures.
Owners
Formerly the castle belonged to the Habsburg family of Austria. The estate is now owned by the state of Salzburg.
In popular culture
In the 1968 cinema film Where Eagles Dare the castle featured as the fictional Schloß Adler that is raided by an Anglo-American S.O.E. and O.S.S. paratroop team during World War II.
The castle was also used as a location for the movie Just Married with Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy in 2003, where it served as a French hotel.
The castle can be seen in the background of the "Do-Re-Mi" picnic scene in The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews, which was filmed on a hillside showing the village of Werfen.
In the video game , the zombies map "Der Eisendrache" is based on 'Hohenwerfen Castle'.
In the 1987 UK Children's series "T. Bag Bounces Back", a scenic painted backdrop featured the castle. Although the castle was never referred to by name, and the setting and internal scenes were entirely fictional, it served as home to some of the main characters in the series.
