Hohenwerfen Castle: After Years I Finally Went Inside

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I’d passed Hohenwerfen Castle countless times before finally visiting it. Perched high above the Salzach Valley, it always looked so impressive that I thought, I really need to go up there one day.

That day came after my dad and I finished our visit to Liechtensteinklamm earlier than expected and spontaneously added the castle to our trip.

I’m glad we did. The guided castle tour and bell tower were highlights, but the birds of prey attraction significantly dampened my experience.

So, is Hohenwerfen Castle worth visiting? Here’s what I enjoyed, what I didn’t, and what you should know before you go.

Table of Contents

Don’t Skip the Guided Castle Tour

If you’re visiting Hohenwerfen Castle, I definitely recommend doing the guided tour. There is a cheaper ticket that only gives you access to the castle grounds and exhibitions, but I wouldn’t choose it. The tour was the highlight of my visit.

When you buy your ticket, you’ll be assigned a time for the next available tour. You can explore the rest of the castle while you wait.

The tour starts in the inner courtyard, you can’t miss it. From there, you’ll explore parts of the castle you can’t visit independently, including the chapel, historic rooms, the torture chamber and defensive areas with cannons.

The tour itself is in German. If you don’t speak German, you’ll join the same group but listen to an audio guide instead. Our guide also spoke English and happily answered questions from English speaking visitors.

Hohenwerfen Castle sits high on a forested hill above a small Austrian town. The sprawling white fortress has stone walls. Round defensive towers. And mountain slopes rising behind it.

How Crowded Is the Tour?

There were around 30 people in my group, which already felt quite crowded in some of the small castle rooms.

I was surprised when our guide said this was actually considered a small group! If you’re visiting during a busy period, be prepared for some cramped sections rather than an intimate castle tour.

Sunny castle courtyard surrounded by white buildings with red and white shutters. A round tower with a clock and open bell tower rises above the courtyard.

Close view of a large green bronze castle bell hanging inside a wooden shingled bell tower. A dark metal clapper hangs beneath the bell.

The Bell Tower Was My Highlight

My favourite part of the guided tour was climbing up into the wooden bell tower. You can step out onto a small balcony high above the castle, and our guide even rang the bell while we were up there.

The only downside was the crowd. With around 30 people trying to fit into the small tower, it felt very cramped and getting a good photo was difficult.

My tip is to either go up the stairs first or hang back and be one of the last. You’ll have a much better chance of enjoying the tower without quite so many people around you.

Museum display of photographs from a film production shot in snowy mountain settings. The collection shows actors in military uniforms and period clothing. A helicopter over a mountain fortress. And scenes filmed on snowy cliffs and cable cars.

Movies Filmed at Hohenwerfen Castle

Hohenwerfen Castle has appeared in several well known movies and TV series. During the tour, our guide regularly pointed out filming locations around the castle.

Some of the best known appearances include:

Where Eagles Dare (1968): Hohenwerfen became the fictional Schloß Adler in the World War II movie.
The Sound of Music (1965): You can spot the castle in the background during the famous Do-Re-Mi picnic scene filmed near Werfen.
The Man in the High Castle: Hohenwerfen was used as the Führer’s headquarters in the TV series.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III: The Der Eisendrache Zombies map was inspired by Hohenwerfen Castle.

I’ll admit, this part of the tour was a little lost on me because I hadn’t seen the movies they mentioned. But if you’re a film fan, you’ll probably get much more excited about recognising the different locations than I did.

There’s also a separate exhibition about productions filmed at Hohenwerfen Castle that you can explore independently.

An open medieval castle gateway with heavy wooden doors and pointed wooden spikes overhead. Three visitors walk through the stone arch toward bright mountains outside.

Explore the Museums at Hohenwerfen Castle

There are several exhibitions you can explore independently. When I visited, these included:

Castle Times: A journey through different periods in the history of Hohenwerfen Castle.
Film exhibition: Covers the movies and TV productions filmed at the castle.
Changing exhibition: During my visit, this was The Uprising, an exhibition about Hohenwerfen Fortress during the Salzburg Peasants’ War.

They’re a good way to fill the time before your assigned guided tour. You can explore the exhibitions and castle grounds at your own pace rather than waiting around.

View through a dark castle opening over a green valley filled with houses. Roads. Forests. And rolling mountains under a clear blue sky.

The Birds of Prey Show Was a Big Downside for Me

One part of Hohenwerfen Castle I really didn’t like is the birds of prey show. In fact, it was one of the reasons I hesitated to visit the castle in the first place.

I chose not to attend the show or visit the Falconry Museum. However, during the guided castle tour, we walked past the enclosures where the birds are kept.

Seeing these large birds of prey sitting in cages honestly broke my heart and put a damper on an otherwise enjoyable castle visit.

What I also dislike is that the bird show is included in the regular castle admission. There isn’t an option to buy a castle ticket that excludes it, so I couldn’t choose to visit the castle without also financially contributing to this part of the attraction.

If animal welfare is important to you, this is something I think you should know about before deciding whether to visit Hohenwerfen Castle.

A wide gravel walking path curves through a dense forest of tall evergreen and deciduous trees. Sunlight filters through the canopy and creates patches of light across the trail.

A round castle tower with a green roof and open bell tower rises above dense evergreen trees. Pale rocky mountain peaks stand behind it against a vivid blue sky.

Walk or Take the Funicular to Hohenwerfen Castle?

From the car park, you can either walk up to Hohenwerfen Castle or take the funicular. We chose to walk because I thought we’d get some nice views of the castle on the way up.

That wasn’t really the case. Almost the entire 15 minute walk is through the forest, so you don’t see much of the castle or surrounding valley.

Take the funicular if you want the more scenic approach, or walk if you’d rather save some money and don’t mind an easy uphill stroll.

You can buy your ticket at the ticket office beside the car park. If you decide to walk, you can also buy your castle admission once you reach the top.

Interior of a small castle chapel with wooden pews facing an ornate altar filled with religious paintings and statues. White vaulted ceilings. Arched windows. And a decorated pulpit surround the sanctuary.

How to Get to Hohenwerfen Castle

By Car

I visited Hohenwerfen Castle with my dad by car. There is a car park and ticket office below the castle, where you can choose whether to walk up or take the funicular.

Driving is also the easiest option if you want to combine Hohenwerfen with other attractions in the area, like Liechtensteinklamm.

By Public Transport

You can also visit Hohenwerfen Castle without a car. The nearest train station is Werfen, but you’ll have a longer walk than if you arrive by car.

The approach is slightly different too. When walking from the train station, you come towards the castle from the other side and join the pedestrian route rather than walking to the main car park first.

View across the castle courtyard toward dramatic pale gray mountain peaks beneath a deep blue sky. White castle buildings with red and white shutters surround tables and umbrellas below.

How Long Do You Need at Hohenwerfen Castle?

We spent around 2 hours at Hohenwerfen Castle, including the guided tour, museums and time exploring the castle grounds, but without the walk up and down.

Your exact timing will depend on when the next guided tour starts. When you buy your ticket, you’ll be given a tour time, so I recommend planning your visit around that and exploring the museums and castle grounds while you wait.

For most visitors, I think 2 to 3 hours is enough time to experience the Castle.

Stone arched entrance to a castle shop with a full suit of medieval armor standing beside the doorway. A burgundy sign above the entrance reads "Ritterladen."

A large rusted historic cannon points through a small rectangular opening in a thick castle wall. A red and white wooden shutter stands open beside the cannon.

Is Hohenwerfen Castle Worth Visiting?

Yes, I think Hohenwerfen Castle is worth visiting, but I would definitely get a ticket that includes the guided tour. Exploring the interiors and climbing the bell tower were the highlights for me.

Interestingly, I think the castle looks even more impressive from a distance than up close.

It reminded me of Burg Hochosterwitz in Carinthia, which I prefer slightly for its medieval castle atmosphere.

My biggest negative was the birds of prey attraction. Seeing the birds in their enclosures really dampened an otherwise enjoyable visit.

Tina wearing sunglasses and a backpack takes a selfie in a sunny castle courtyard. White castle buildings with red and white shutters stand behind her with rugged mountain peaks in the distance.

What to Combine With Hohenwerfen Castle

Hohenwerfen Castle only takes around 3 hours, so it’s easy to combine with another attraction nearby.

Eisriesenwelt, the famous ice cave in Werfen, is very close to the castle and is a great choice if you want to make a full day of exploring the area.

We combined Hohenwerfen with Liechtensteinklamm Gorge instead. There’s even a small bonus: we saved €1.50 on our Hohenwerfen tickets by showing our Liechtensteinklamm tickets.

Both combinations are easiest by car. They’re possible with public transport too, but expect more walking and a bit more planning.