New book traces Salzburg archbishops’ castles across Central Europe

A new book documents around 200 fortifications linked to Salzburg’s former archbishopric across Austria, Bavaria and Slovenia, ORF reports. The work, presented by the Federal Monuments Authority and the state of Salzburg, shows how far the archbishops’ rule once extended beyond today’s Salzburg region.

About 100 locations with strong ties to Salzburg and its centres of power receive detailed treatment. The authors, Slovenian architect Igor Sapač and Lower Austrian heritage conservator Patrick Schicht, set out to visit the archbishops’ fortifications and produce a comprehensive architectural overview. Their book follows the development of the buildings from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period.

The archbishopric’s territory included parts of Bavaria, Austria and Slovenia. Its castles served both to defend the independence of the ecclesiastical principality and as cultural centres and administrative hubs. Schicht said the fortifications also helped Salzburg defend itself during the Thirty Years’ War, adding that the region was not attacked.

Hohensalzburg Fortress stood as a prominent symbol of the prince-archbishops’ power. From the 11th century, it helped secure their rule and economic wealth, including income from salt and gold mining. The fortress was never captured by enemy forces.

Hohenwerfen Castle, built from 1077 above the Salzach Valley near Werfen in the Pongau region, protected the archbishops’ territory to the south and controlled a key transport and trade route. It was also used to monitor and suppress rebellious subjects, particularly during the Peasants’ Wars.

The publication is the sixth volume in a scholarly series on Austria’s monuments and historic buildings. At its presentation, Monuments Authority president Christoph Bazil said the preservation of the large buildings was supported by substantial investment from the state.