February 12, 2006
Prince Archbishop Eberhard (1060 to 1088) built the first castle on the Festungsberg in 1077. Initially, this was little more than a bailey with a wooden wall, serving mostly for the protection of Imperial troops of the Holy Roman Empire. Under the reign of Prince Archbishop Konrad I. (1106 to 1147), a tower from stone was built and over the course of the following years all through the 12th and 13th century, the fortified area was gradually increased until mighty walls embraced most of the upper level of the Festungsberg area, called “Bering”.
Prince Archbishop Burkhard III. von Weißpriach (1461 to 1466) built the four main towers along the outer wall: the “Glockenturm” or bell tower in the Northern wall; the “Trompeterturm” (trumpeter tower) in the Northeast, the “Krautturm” (kraut tower) in the North, and the “Schmiedturm” or “Arrestantenturm” in the South. Under the reign of Burhard’s successor Prince Archbishop Bernhard von Rohr (1466 to 1481), the Rohr bastion was built.
Prince Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach (1495 to 1519) invested vast amounts of money into decorations, modernization and extensions. He is also responsible for the elaborate “Fürstenzimmer”, representative lounges, the St. Georg’s Church and the mechanical organ instrument the “Salzburger Stier”. See Visit-Salzburg for more information.
