December 27, 2010: Salzburg - Festung Hohensalzburg (Salzburg Castle)

December 27, 2010: A short way up the hill from the Salzburg Dom is the funicular to the Festung Hohensalzburg, the Salzburg Castle that sits atop the mountain overlooking the city. 

funicular leading to Festung Hohensalzburg, Salzburg Castle

The castle was first built in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein and additions were made to it in the years since. Throughout the years, the castle was never seized in battle because it was built to be impenetrable. The only time the castle was "taken over" was by Napolean but the castle never really "lost" in a battle because it was peacefully given to Napolean. The views from the castle are quite impressive.

The castle itself was very interesting to visit. Some of the rooms were fixed to look just as they would have years ago. Other buildings were also quite picturesque.

Salzburg Dom as seen from Festung Hohensalzburg

 

There was a large organ that was played much like a player piano using a rotating roll of paper pierced with holes to play the notes rather than being played from a keyboard.

Organ

A museum showed a number of musical instruments of the time including a long curved horn.

The castle was heated using porcelain stoves that were elaborately decorated.

Castle porcelain heater

Castle porcelain stove

Castle porcelain heater detail

The castle also had its own chapel.

Castle chapel

There was also a puppet museum in the castle. Two rather unusual (disturbing?) puppets were on display.

 The funicular took us back down to the bottom of the hill where we saw a sculpture.

And so ends our tour of Festung Hohensalzburg.