Hohenwerfen Castle: Perched Majestically in Austria

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a fortress that protected the community in medieval times.

Castles are typically perched strategically atop the highest point of an area, in order to view and defend all that lies beneath. Hohenwerfen Castle was built on top of a 500-foot rock to afford panoramic views of the Salzach Valley below. Hohenwerfen’s turrets, bridges, fortification wall, and more are clearly visible in this aerial view. saiko3p/Shutterstock

In the United States, a structure that is 300, or even 200, years old is considered extremely aged. Yet in Europe, 18th- and 19th-century construction seems young, considering the age of some revered sites.

The circa 15th-century medieval fortress known as Hohenwerfen Castle overlooks the town of Werfen, Austria, 25 miles south of Saltzburg. The castle was designed as a traditional stronghold with outlying structures for housing, a bridge, a church, and even a crypt.