The first expansion of Burghausen castle was made by Count Sieghart X in 1090, but most of the buildings have disappeared

Burghausen Castle is located in Bavaria in southern Germany, east of Munich and is situated on the west bank of the Salzach River, built atop a ridge. The castle stretches for over a full kilometre and is divided into six courtyards. It is also the longest castle in Germany and Europe.

In 600 AD the first building on the castle site was a wooden fortified house built by Bavarian Dukes. It served for general administration as well as for the protection of the salt trade, shipped on the Salzach River.

The German King Konrad II made Burghausen and the surrounding districts into an Earldom and appointed Bailiffs to administer it.

The first expansion of Burghausen castle was made by Count Sieghart X in 1090, but most of the buildings have disappeared. It stayed the seat of the counts of Burghausen until 1163. In that year Heinrich the Lion, took possession of the castle and the Earldom until 1180.

Until 1918 the Bavarian Dukes of Wittelsbach ruled Bavaria and extended Burghausen castle further through the centuries. Duke Heinrich XIII built the main castle in 1255, and much of it stands still today. The most important building periods however were under the rule of the last three Dukes (Heinrich, Ludwig and George) of Lower Bavaria. They expanded and reinforced Burghausen castle to its present appearance under the impression of the Turk danger (1480 - 1490).

In the 18th century the castle underwent massive conversions and, as result of the succession wars in the first half of the 18th century and the loss of parts of the country to Austria, Burghausen became a border town.

The castle complex is divided into six courtyards. Each courtyard had or has its own fortified gate, moat and wooden drawbridge. Likewise each courtyard was built at a different time and has its own history.

The Palace of the Duke's Residence was located within the first courtyard, as well as The Durnitz (Gothic Hall), the Kemenate, the Inner Castle Chapel and the Treasury. The Chapel was built during the 13th century.

The second courtyard is very large, but many of the original buildings are gone and have not been rebuilt.

In the third courtyard there was a smithy or forge. It also housed an arsenal with it's top two floors allocated for grain storage. It contains one of finest preserved bridge and gate of any castle of medieval times. It is also the narrowest part of the castle and the wooden bridge spans 27 meters and covers a moat 8 meters deep.

The fourth courtyard housed another stable with grain storage, the prison, Torture Tower or Witches Tower and a deep dungeon.

The fifth courtyard contained the main Tower and a small Gothic style chapel, which was built between 1480 and 1490.

The sixth and largest of the courtyards is also the most altered of the castle. In the middle stands a Clock Tower. There was also a horse pond and a horse drawn mill.

Today the castle is home to two museums and a youth hostel.

Tourist Information

April-September: 9 am-6 pm

October-March: 10 am-4 pm

Open daily

Closed on: 1.1., Shrove Tuesday, 24.12., 25.12., 31.12.

Admission charges: 3,- euros regular 2,- euros reduced

 

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