49868
The view from Festung Hohensalzburg (Hohensalzburg Fortress) in Altstadt the historic centre of Salzburg, Austria.
Archaeological excavations have shown that a Roman fort existed at the highest point of the site. Construction of the current fortress began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein. The original design was a basic bailey with a wooden wall. In the Holy Roman Empire, the archbishops of Salzburg were already powerful political figures and they expanded the fortress to protect their interests. The fortress was gradually expanded during the following centuries. The ring walls and towers were built in 1462 under Prince-Archbishop Burkhard II von Weißpriach.
The only time that the fortress actually came under siege was during the German Peasants' War in 1525, when a group of miners, farmers and townspeople tried to oust Prince-Archbishop Matthäus Lang, but failed to take the fortress. During the Thirty Years' War, Archbishop Count Paris of Lodron strengthened the town's defences, including Hohensalzburg.
The fortress was surrendered without a fight to French troops under General Jean Victor Marie Moreau during the Napoleonic War in 1800 and the last Prince-Archbishop Count Hieronymus von Colloredo fled to Vienna. In the 19th century, it was used as barracks, storage depot and dungeon before being abandoned as a military outpost in 1861.
Hohensalzburg Fortress was refurbished from the late 19th century onwards and became a major tourist attraction and stands today as one of the best preserved castles in Europe. During the early 20th century it was used as a prison, holding Italian prisoners of war during World War I and Nazi activists before Germany's annexation of Austria in March 1938.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohensalzburg_Fortress
49868
The view from Festung Hohensalzburg (Hohensalzburg Fortress) in Altstadt the historic centre of Salzburg, Austria.
Archaeological excavations have shown that a Roman fort existed at the highest point of the site. Construction of the current fortress began in 1077 under Archbishop Gebhard von Helfenstein. The original design was a basic bailey with a wooden wall. In the Holy Roman Empire, the archbishops of Salzburg were already powerful political figures and they expanded the fortress to protect their interests. The fortress was gradually expanded during the following centuries. The ring walls and towers were built in 1462 under Prince-Archbishop Burkhard II von Weißpriach.
The only time that the fortress actually came under siege was during the German Peasants' War in 1525, when a group of miners, farmers and townspeople tried to oust Prince-Archbishop Matthäus Lang, but failed to take the fortress. During the Thirty Years' War, Archbishop Count Paris of Lodron strengthened the town's defences, including Hohensalzburg.
The fortress was surrendered without a fight to French troops under General Jean Victor Marie Moreau during the Napoleonic War in 1800 and the last Prince-Archbishop Count Hieronymus von Colloredo fled to Vienna. In the 19th century, it was used as barracks, storage depot and dungeon before being abandoned as a military outpost in 1861.
Hohensalzburg Fortress was refurbished from the late 19th century onwards and became a major tourist attraction and stands today as one of the best preserved castles in Europe. During the early 20th century it was used as a prison, holding Italian prisoners of war during World War I and Nazi activists before Germany's annexation of Austria in March 1938.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hohensalzburg_Fortress