Hohensalzburg Fortress

Hohensalzburg Fortress (built between 1060 and 1088)
It is often described as the largest fortification in Central Europe, it is known as a bulwark in a prominent location, and tourists from overseas often refer to it somewhat incorrectly as "Salzburg Castle": Hohensalzburg Fortress dominates the cityscape and is Salzburg's landmark. No self-respecting tourist should miss a visit to the fortress.
The oldest defenses on the southern slope of the Mönchsberg date back to Roman times. Where exactly they are located and how strongly fortified the mountain really was is unclear, however. The location of today's fortress would have made sense even then: from the position of the fortress, the surroundings of Salzburg and the Salzach River can be better controlled than from any other point in the city.
Prince Archbishop Eberhard (1060 to 1088) built the first castle here, on the segment of the Mönchsberg that is now known as the Festungsberg. This first castle was completed in 1077 and can be seen as the result of the Investiture Controversy: a power struggle between the Holy Roman Emperor of the German Nation, Henry IV, and Pope Gregory VII in Rome. The Archbishop of Salzburg was caught in the crossfire and sided with the Pope.
Text / Source: TSG Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, Auerspergstraße 6, Salzburg
visit-salzburg.net/deutsch/sehenswuerdig/festung-hohensalzburg.htm

Construction & expansion of the early Hohensalzburg Fortress
Under the leadership of Prince Archbishop Conrad I (1106 to 1147), a stone tower was built and over the next few years the fortified areas of the castle were continuously expanded. This trend continued throughout the 12th and 13th centuries, until most of today's fortress hill was enclosed. This area was called Bering. By this time, the Investiture Controversy had long since been settled, but Salzburg had developed economically and new conflicts between Bavaria and Babenberg and later Habsburg Austria caused new problems in the region. The "Salz Castle" became increasingly strategically important.
The prosperity that Salzburg experienced in the late Middle Ages was accompanied by social unrest. Prince Archbishop Burkhard III of Weisspriach (1461 to 1466) had the four main towers that still exist today built, together with the outer fortification wall: bell tower in the north; trumpeter tower in the northeast; Krautturm in the north; and Schmied- or Arrestantenturm in the south.
The Rohrbastei was built under the rule of Burkhard's successor, Prince Archbishop Bernhard von Rohr (1466 to 1481) - the rulers at that time had concerns: the miners in the south of Salzburg were becoming increasingly rebellious and the city's wealthy citizens were demanding more power and influence. But the fear of a Turkish invasion from the east was even more serious. The fortress had to be expanded further.
Text / Source: TSG Tourismus Salzburg GmbH, Auerspergstraße 6, Salzburg
visit-salzburg.net/deutsch/sehenswuerdig/festung-hohensalzburg.htm

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