Hochosterwitz Castle is rightfully considered impregnable: to get to the castle, you need to walk or drive along a narrow serpentine road. And the castle walls themselves are hidden behind fourteen gates. For this reason, not a single army could get inside, and therefore the castle retained its original appearance.
History of Hochosterwitz Castle
The lands on which this fortress is located, in the past were in the possession of the Western Slavs - here was the principality of Carantania. The castle has been mentioned for a long time, in the middle of the ninth century - the castle was called Astorwitz. The name could come from the surname of a local family of aristocrats - Osterwitz. After all members of this family died, the Duke of Carinthia became the owner of Hochosterwitz.
Later, the castle passed into the possession of Christopher Kevenhüller, who left it to his descendants. In order to protect the castle from enemy raids, the owners fortified the fortress. And now for several centuries, since the seventeenth century, Hochosterwitz has not been subjected to serious reconstruction.
An assistant for tourists in Austria is an online car booking service. At Innsbruck Airport, the average cost of renting a compact car will be around 18 euros per day, and at Salzburg Airport it will be 16 euros per day.
To this day, the Kevenhüllers own the fortress, although they themselves do not live in the castle. Only part of the fort is allowed to be visited.
Attractions and tips for tourists
The complex consists of the following facilities:
1. Central building,
2. Chapel,
3. Outbuildings,
4. Two yards,
5. Terraces.
Tourists often stop in front of a huge tank that serves to collect water. The ascent to Hochosterwitz on one of the several drawbridges is already considered exciting.
Fourteen gates separate the central building from tourists. All portals have different designs, none are alike. All gates are equipped with traps that were intended for enemy troops. There is a legend according to which none of the invaders went beyond the fourth gate. Traps are now part of the scenery. For the convenience of tourists, an elevator has been made, which allows you not to waste time getting up. This method has a drawback, since the elevator is designed for a small number of people, and Hochosterwitz is visited by many tourists. This means that you will have to stand in line for the elevator for quite a long time.
Living rooms open to visitors show household items of the owners of the castle. The museum also presents a collection of weapons and armor of one of the defenders of the fortress. Museum displays also showcase old books, porcelain and paintings from the Renaissance period. Photography inside the museum is prohibited.
Tourists should remember that a trip to Hochosterwitz alone will cost more than a group tour. Ticket, which can be bought at the entrance; this ticket should be kept until the end of the walk, as it includes the cost of the excursion.
On the territory of the castle you can buy souvenirs in one of the shops. However, you can save money on buying souvenirs by buying them in a nearby town. Not far from the castle there are cafes where you can buy drinks and snacks.Hochosterwitz is one of the most beautiful and impregnable in all of Europe. Not a single invader set foot in the courtyard of the castle. At present, a museum has been organized by the owners of the castle to get acquainted with the history of the fortress.
