festung kufstein
festung kufstein

Kufstein Fortress

The emblem of the town of Kufstein, the Kufstein Fortress with its open-air arena, is a popular destination in North Tyrol

The Kufstein Fortress is one of the most impressive Medioeval constructions in Tyrol: It rises on a hill above Kufstein. This fortress has already been built very early in order to control the entrance from the Alpine foothills into the Inntal valley. However, it has been mentioned for the first time in 1205 AD, when it was in possession of the Bishops of Regensburg. In the course of time, the complex has been expanded, and since 1924 it has been in possession of the town of Kufstein.

Nowadays, the fortress is one of the most popular destinations in the entire alpine area and offers a varied programme for those who are interested in culture and history. A special attraction is the largest open-air organ in the world, the Heroes' Organ. It features 4,307 pipes, and 4 registers. The sound of the organ reminds on the soldiers killed in WWI and II, and can be heard in the entire town. Moreover, you can take a look into the Local Museum, the former cell wing in the Emperor Tower, and the Museum in the Citizens' Tower with its exhibits of the Tyrolean Imperial Infantry.

The offer is completed by the new exhibitions "Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, and his time", "Bavaria-Tyrol - A varied history" and "Knights and lansquenets". The Kufstein Fortress with its open-air arena Josefsburg provides state-of-the-art technique that enables performances to be staged also in case of bad weather, as in this case a huge umbrella opens. You can reach the fortress either via the "Kaiser Maximilian" panorama cable car or on foot via covered stair access.

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