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The castle courtyards at a glance

The six castle courtyards are strung together like a pearl necklace. Every castle courtyard has lots to discover.

Grafik der Burghöfe Burghausen

The 5th courtyard

The outermost courtyard mainly housed the administrative offices and places of work, officials' residences and castle staff quarters. The fortified character of the "Oberer Schanz" (bastions with three bridges) was lost through the damage and modifications which occurred in the 19th century.

 

Highlights of the 5th courtyard: 

  • Liebenwein Tower with temporary exhibitions by the artists group "Die Burg"

  • Uhrturm - Clock tower with colourful paintwork and sundial

  • Rentmeisterstock - The tax collector's rooms, now home to The House of  Photography

  • The Öttinger Gate tower (the sole entrance from the north until 1836): Here, the Hofberg hill leads down into the old town

The 4th courtyard

The highlight of the 5th courtyard is Hedwig's Chapel. This outer castle chapel (Hedwig's Chapel) was built by master court and fortress builder Ulrich Pesnitzer between 1479 and 1489 by order of Duke George the Rich and his wife Hedwig.

 

Further highlights of the 4th courtyard:

  • Gärtnerturm - Gardener's Tower, which was converted to a viewing tower in 1963

  • Aussichtspunkt - Vantage point with a view of Lake Wöhrsee

The 3rd courtyard

This castle courtyard was mainly used to house criminals. However, grain was also stored here.

 

Highlights of the 3rd courtyard:

  • Folterturm - Torture Tower and museum

  • Haberkasten - The stables and oats barn, now home to The Athanor Theatre Academy

The 2nd courtyard

One particularly striking sight is the master gunsmith's tower, also popularly known as "Schwurfinger", referring to the thumb and first two fingers raised to swear an oath.

 

Further highlights of the 2nd courtyard:

  • Pfefferbüchsen - Pepper pots, which were used as guard and lookout towers

  • Altes Zeughaus - The "Old Armoury" was as used as a weapons and munitions arsenal with a silo

  • Two fabulous vantage points overlooking the old town and Lake Wöhrsee

The 1st courtyard

This castle courtyard is the forecourt to the main castle. The "training yard, where many events and concerts are held in the summer, is also situated here.

 

Highlights of the 1st courtyard:

  • Georgstor - George's Gate with the Bavarian and Polish coats of arms

  • Viewing tower overlooking Lake Wöhrsee

The inner castle courtyard - main castle

The inner castle courtyard is the centrepiece of the world's longest castle. Features of the inner castle courtyard, surrounded by a high tuff stone wall, include two museums (Town museum and State collection), Elisabeth's Chapel and the heated room.

 

Highlights of the inner castle courtyard:

  • Entrance to the tour in the lower bailey

  • Dürnitz - Heated room with the "Zehrgaden" (storage room) underneath; this is now home to the visitor information centre

  • Treasure chamber

  • Inner castle chapel (Elisabeth's Chapel)

Impressions of the courtyards:

Burghauser Hauptburg und die Fahne des Stadtmusuems
Blick in den Innenhof der Burghauser Hauptburg vom Aussichtspunkt des Museums
Georgstor mit Besuchern auf der Brücke auf der Burghauser Burg
Radfahrer blicken vom vierten Vorhof in die Burghauser Altstadt
Blick vom zweiten Vorhof auf die Burghauser Altstadt mit der Kirche St. Jakob
Burggraben mit Brücke zur Hauptburg Burghausen
Büchsenmeisterturm mit Brücke und Burggraben auf der Burg in Burghausen
Der Weg des Burgsteigs zur weltlängsten Burg in Burghausen
Junge und Mädchen auf Kanonenkugeln in der Hauptburg Burghausen

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