Burg Hochosterwitz

Gohosterwitz Castle (also called Hochosterwitz) is a landmark of which the Republic of Austria can be proud. Hochosterwitz is situated on a 160 m high dolomite cliff, east of the town of St. Fait an der Gla. In sunny weather, the castle can be seen from a distance of more than 30 km. A narrow serpentine road leads to it. To get here, you need to pass 14 gates, and the castle is guarded by a giant guard. For thousands of years, no enemy has been able to take these walls by storm, so the beautiful castle still looks as good as new. A visit to Gohostervitz will fulfill a childhood dream and allow you to touch a cruel, yet most romantic era in human history.

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Video: Gohosterwitz Castle

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Slovenian Astorvica

The territory where one of Austria’s federal states, Carinthia, is located today once belonged to the Western Slavs. The principality of Carantania was located here. The first mention of the castle dates back to 860. At that time the castle was called Astorvica (or Ostrovitsa). Probably, the name comes from the family name of the Osterwitz family. The last representative of this family died in Turkish captivity in the XV century. As there were no heirs left, the castle passed to the Holy Roman Emperor and the Duke of Carinthia.

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In the 16th century, the castle was given to the Viceroy of Carinthia, Christopher Kevenhüller (Hebenhüller). The citadel was then acquired by Christopher’s heir. In order to protect the castle from Turkish invasions, the owners thoroughly fortified Gochosterwitz. Since the 17th century, no significant changes have been made to the architecture of the castle. At present, the citadel is still the property of the Kevenhüller family. The owners do not live in the castle itself, but only a part of the citadel is accessible to the public.

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Attractions at Gohosterwitz Castle

The Gohosterwitz complex includes a central building, a chapel, outbuildings, 2 courtyards and several terraces. The attention of tourists is always attracted by a huge tank. It is designed to collect water. You can enter the fortress by one of the five lifting bridges. Moving upstairs becomes a real adventure and is considered an excursion in itself.

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14 gates

In order to get up to the central building of Gohosterwitz Castle, you have to pass through 14 gates. Each portal has its own unique design; on them you can see the flags of Carinthia and the coat of arms of the Kevenhüller family. Behind the next gate, uninvited guests were usually met with a trap, such as stones falling on the invaders’ heads. Nowadays, the traps serve a decorative function.

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A gate is not a flat fence, but an entire structure. To find out how the building looks from the inside, you need to study the plaques attached to its walls. Legend has it that no invader could get further than the fourth portal. Today, anyone can pass all the gates.

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If a tourist does not want to waste time and energy on an independent ascent, you can use the elevator. However, this way to quickly find yourself at the top has significant disadvantages. The elevator cabin is designed for only 6 people. Due to the huge number of visitors, you can wait for a long time for your turn, and then the guest of the Gohosterwitz castle will not be able to see the gate. You will have to pay to use the cable car. Going down is free of charge.

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Museum

For tourists in the castle Gohosterwitz open several living rooms, in which once passed the everyday life of the owners of the fortress. You should also visit the museum – a room where the household items of the medieval inhabitants of the castle and weapons are collected. Of particular interest are the armor of the giant Schenk. The height of this man exceeded 2 meters. Even nowadays, Schenk would be considered too tall, and medieval people were characterized by their short stature. Both the inhabitants of the castle and those who tried to capture the castle had a superstitious horror of Schenk.

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Among the exhibits of the museum you can see a huge number of ancient books, expensive porcelain, samples of seals and Renaissance paintings. The travel diaries of King James I of England are kept here. One of the exhibits is a statue of Georg Kevenhüller praying. Visitors to the museum should keep in mind that it is forbidden to take pictures inside Gohostervitz. The opening schedule of the museum depends on the season. From May to October the complex is open from 9.00 to 18.00. From October to May you can see the attraction from 9.00 to 17.00.

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Around the castle

Not all tourists enjoy the two-hour climb up the steep serpentine road, so for those who like comfort there is an elevator running on a railroad. However, the local population has adapted to use this trail for hiking, so don’t be surprised to see cheerful pensioners with backpacks and staffs along the way.

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Hiking Tips

To save money on visiting the castle, you should have a Carinthia guest card. Going on a tour alone is not advisable. A walk through Gohosterwitz will cost much cheaper if carried out in a group of ten people. Tourists who decide to visit the citadel on their own, buy tickets before entering Gohostervitz. Keep the ticket until the end of the walk through the citadel, as it includes the cost of the tour.

You can buy souvenirs before entering the fortress or at the complex. To save money, memorabilia is better to buy in the city of Klagenfurt. You can relax after a long climb in the small cafes located in the courtyards of Gohosterwitz. Light snacks, tea, coffee and local beer are offered.

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How to get there

The Citadel is located 17 kilometers from the town of St. Fait-en-der-Glahn. Due to its favorable location on a high cliff, in good weather the Gochosterwitz castle can be seen even from a distance of 30 km.

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It is advisable to take a cab from the city to the castle. It is also possible to buy a tour. In this case, travelers arrive at the complex on a special tour bus.

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