Kaprun Castle: A Medieval Fortress in Austria

Visitor Information

Google Rating: 4.3

Popularity: Medium

Official Website: www.burg-kaprun.at

Country: Austria

Civilization: Unclassified

Site type: Military

Remains: Castle

History

Kaprun Castle is located in the municipality of Kaprun, Austria, and was originally built during the medieval period by local powers in the region. Its earliest known name, recorded on February 9, 931, was “Chataprunnin,” derived from a Celtic word meaning “wild water,” reflecting the natural surroundings noted in the Codex Odalberti.

The initial construction of the castle dates back to the 12th century, with its site mentioned in 1166 as part of the holdings of the Bavarian lords of Falkenstein-Neuburg in the Codex Falkensteinensis. The castle itself appears in documents from 1280 under the name “Chaprunne Tower,” primarily in the context of attacks by local lords known as the Felber. Ownership shifted several times in the following decades; by 1287, it belonged to Archbishop Rudolf von Hoheneck of Salzburg, though by 1338 the Felben family had regained control.

From 1480 onward, the castle took on a judicial role as the seat of the archiepiscopal administrative court, known as the Pflegegericht. This role brought an increased administrative presence, although in 1526 the castle was severely damaged by fire during the Salzburg Peasants’ War, reflecting the region’s unrest. Reconstruction occurred between 1580 and 1600 under the guidance of Josef Hundt von Ainetperg, a caretaker for Salzburg, who restored the castle following its original layout.

The early 17th century saw turbulent events; in 1601, Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau ordered the execution of Caspar Vogl, the Kaprun caretaker, due to his sympathies with rebellious peasants from the nearby Pinzgau region. Over time, the castle’s importance to local governance declined as smaller administrative units favored locations such as Zell am See. During the 1645 uprising in the Zillertal valley, around 300 Salzburg musketeers used Kaprun Castle as a military stronghold.

Ownership passed through various hands from the 17th century onward. In 1811, the Bavarian government sold the then-ruined castle to local foresters. The estate later attracted noble interest; in 1893, Princess Sophie Löwenstein, sister of the Prince of Liechtenstein, acquired the property. In 1921, Prince Johann II of Liechtenstein sold the castle along with Schloss Fischhorn to Heinrich E. Gildemeister, a diplomat from Peru and entrepreneur based in Bremen. Following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany in 1938 (the Anschluss), the Gildemeister family was dispossessed but regained ownership after the Second World War.

At the close of World War II, the castle was used briefly as a Wehrmacht barracks. That same year, the removal of its roofs caused significant structural damage. Further deterioration followed with the collapse of the northern ring wall in 1949. Limited stabilization work took place in the mid-1970s, and by 1984, the non-profit Burgverein Kaprun, founded by local businesspeople, took ownership and began extensive restoration efforts. Despite these restorations, the castle grounds and the road leading to it remain in possession of the Gildemeister family.

Today, Kaprun Castle hosts cultural activities and is available for private events, continuing its long history as a centre of local significance.

Remains

Kaprun Castle is a medieval hilltop fortress situated on an elevated position overlooking the southern slope of the Salzach valley. Its overall design forms an irregular rectangle, with three sides enclosed by a thick defensive wall. The western boundary of the castle relies naturally on steep cliffs, which serve as a formidable protection, replacing the need for artificial fortifications. Originally, the castle was encircled by a moat, a water-filled defensive trench; today, part of this feature has transformed into a pond.

Access was historically gained through a prominent gate with a segmental arch on the southern side. This entrance bears an inscription marking the year 1574, aligning with the period of significant remodeling. A bell tower rises from the southeast corner of the castle, recognizable by its six distinguishable floors. The lower levels retain Romanesque architectural elements—an early medieval style characterized by thick walls and small arches—while the tower’s top floor is distinguished by a bifurcated (divided) window. Reinforcing the building’s robustness, cornerstones with large, protruding bosses (roughly finished stones) mark structural strength.

The castle walls consist of broken stones carefully laid in horizontal layers, finished with plaster that smooths the exterior surfaces. Two entrances stand out on the courtyard-facing side, positioned unusually high on the third floor; these elevated doorways suggest defensive considerations, as well as access control. The uppermost floor within the tower served as a prison, located just beneath the residential quarters situated on the floor above.

The northeastern section houses a substantial residential building connected to the bell tower by a high wall. This part of the castle traces its origins back to the 12th century, with fragments of colorful wall paintings providing evidence of its age. The vaulted ground floor remains intact enough to be recognizable, while the three floors above contain remains of fireplaces and window ledges, indicating living spaces.

A noteworthy feature is a formerly free-standing staircase on the castle’s western side. It led downward and is historically significant due to the original division of ownership between two families, Walchen and Felben, who controlled different parts of the castle complex. The most comfortable residential floors, found on the upper levels, were added later, dating from the second half of the 16th century, representing updates to living quarters in line with evolving standards of comfort.

The castle’s northern façade, facing out towards the Salzach valley, features twelve window openings arranged across three floors, allowing for broad views of the surrounding landscape.

In the early 18th century, the castle underwent structural reinforcements as its walls showed signs of weakening. In 1714, tie rods—metal rods used to hold walls together—were installed, and further works took place in 1726 to maintain the building’s integrity.

Adjacent to the castle, at a lower level northeast of the main complex, stands the chapel dedicated to Saint James, constructed in 1562 by caretaker Diether zu Urstein. It replaced an earlier chapel that had been located on the third floor of the northeastern residential building. This smaller church is notable for features such as a small oriel window (a projecting bay window supported from below), a bell tower with rounded sound openings, and a late Gothic-style portal marked by round arches. The chapel’s nave is long and covered by a flat barrel vault—a simple curved ceiling resembling the inside of a barrel cut lengthwise. Its interior holds Baroque furnishings, including three altars; the main altar painting depicting Saint James was painted in 1736 by Franz Xaver Kurz.

The chapel suffered extensive damage during 1943, likely related to wartime activity, but was reconstructed in 1960 to restore its historic character. Together, the castle and chapel provide a well-preserved glimpse into the medieval and early modern phases of Kaprun’s architectural and social history.