Τα 17 καλύτερα κάστρα Anger

Beautiful historic castle above Bad Reichenhall. Unfortunately, no longer open to the public.

An experience for the whole family

The path to St. Pankraz Church is currently closed.

Glanegg Castle is visible from afar

The Karlstein Castle ruins are protected as an architectural and archaeological monument on a rock in the Karlstein district of Bad Reichenhall in the Berchtesgadener Land district of Bavaria. The castle was built by the Peilsteiners shortly before 1150. Previously converted into a palace, it fell into disrepair from the end of the 17th century. The ruins of the summit castle are located 615 m above the Thumsee on a steep rock and can only be reached via a long metal staircase on the last section of a hiking trail. In front of the castle ruins is the Catholic pilgrimage church of St. Pankraz. In place of this baroque church, built in 1687-1689, the Pankraz rock probably had an outer bailey in the High Middle Ages. On the northern flank of the rock, directly below the current castle ruins, numerous dwellings from the Bronze Age were found, which are part of the prehistoric settlement sites of Karlstein. On the Haiderburgstein, which rises north-east of the church of St. Pankraz, dwellings from the Bronze and Urnfield periods have been identified. The area where the castle is today was probably also inhabited at this time. However, as the area was built over in the Middle Ages, there is no archaeological evidence. The generously designed round-arch gate from the late period of the complex has been preserved. In the middle of the castle complex there are still the remains of an almost square cistern in which rainwater was collected. At the highest point of the inner courtyard there is a round tower which - equipped with a high entrance - served the function of a keep. It dates back to the first half of the 13th century, the time when Karlstein became the property of the Duke of Bavaria. The complex is protected as an architectural and archaeological monument, "underground medieval and early modern findings in the area of the Karlstein castle ruins". A visit is definitely recommended

The SalzAlpenSteig also runs nearby. All information about the hiking trail can be found under the following link: www.salzalpensteig.com/wanderetappen/etappenuebersicht.html (as of July 6, 2024).

After Archbishop Adalbert of Salzburg destroyed the town of Reichenhall and demolished Gruttenstein Castle in 1196, he built the Hallburg on the Streitbichl - within sight of the remains of Gruttenstein - to demonstrate his power over the town. The castle was the venue for several documents until it was destroyed in 1262 by the Duke of Bavaria, who had rebuilt Gruttenstein in 1218. The castle ruins are now an archaeological monument.

To the south of the castle lies the equally impressive large Meierhof, whose structure dates back to the 15th century. The gate tower there was built under Archbishop Leopold Anton von Firmian.