Hohenwerfen Castle – Where Eagles Dare!

The idea of visiting Hohenwerfen Castle was firmed up the moment we decided to include Austria in our -European Adventure 2025 itinerary. In fact, Ulhas had watched the classic WWII film – Where Eagles Dare countless times in his younger days — and the castle’s dramatic cliffside perch was imprinted on his imagination.

We had already explored the Eisriesenwelt, the largest ice cave in the world, earlier in the day — a surreal, otherworldly experience in itself. On our way down from the cave, we caught the ferry bus back and hopped off near the funicular station that leads up to the castle. A light drizzle had started by then, adding a touch of medieval moodiness to the atmosphere — perfect weather to visit a fortress!

We bought the tickets for all six of us at the funicular station — Ulhas, Mohit, Naiyya, Praveen, Meenakshi, and myself — and found we had about 45 minutes to spare before our 5:00 PM guided tour.

We made our way through the castle gates and into the main courtyard, where we sat for a while, enjoying the crisp alpine air and the beautiful stone architecture around us. The place had a quiet energy — like history hanging in the mist. We strolled into the Souvenir Shop, picked up some charming little keepsakes, and of course, took dozens of pictures with the dramatic views behind us. There was laughter, chatter, and a shared sense of excitement as we waited for the tour to begin.

Right on time, our 5:00 PM tour began. We were greeted by our guide — Florian Willim — who instantly stood out, dressed in a medieval-style costume that perfectly matched the castle’s ambiance. Though ours was the last tour of the day, Florian’s energy was infectious, as if he were welcoming the first group of the morning.

He ushered us in through the heavy wooden door and began leading us up the narrow stone staircases, pausing at various rooms to share stories of what life was like within these ancient walls centuries ago. He painted vivid pictures — from banquet halls to armories, chapels to dungeons — and brought the fortress to life with his knowledge and enthusiasm.

And then came a delightful twist: we discovered that Florian was a huge fan of the film Where Eagles Dare — just like Ulhas!

He shared behind-the-scenes tidbits about the movie — where Clint Eastwood and Richard Burton stood, which corridors were used in the escape scenes, and even showed us the room that became the Radio Room in the movie. It was thrilling to stand in a place we’d seen on screen, imagining the dramatic scenes unfolding all around us. Florian even quizzed us on moments from the film — and Ulhas, of course, passed with flying colours. That truly impressed him!

We also passed by the large eagle enclosures, home to the majestic birds featured in the castle’s twice-daily falconry shows. Sadly, we missed the live show this time, but just seeing the birds up close — regal and alert — was a treat in itself.

The tour culminated with a climb to the castle’s highest tower. There, the panoramic views of the Salzach Valley simply took our breath away. A soft evening light bathed the mountains and village below — the perfect moment to reflect on the day.

We each took turns ringing the giant bronze bell at the top — its deep, resonant sound echoing through the valley. It felt like the grand finale to a wonderful day of discovery.

As we descended, we stopped to thank Florian, who had been nothing short of fantastic. But he wasn’t done yet — he reappeared with a vintage film magazine from the original Where Eagles Dare shoot. He and Ulhas pored over it together like two kids in a candy store. It was a moment of shared fandom that added a whole new layer of charm to the visit.

Of course, we had to capture the moment — Ulhas posed with Florian, grinning like a true movie buff.

With hearts full and legs slightly tired, we boarded the funicular down from the castle, retracing our steps into the lovely little town of Werfen, and this time we had to wear our raincapes. We walked slowly, chatting and laughing, making our way towards the train station to catch our ride back to Salzburg.

A castle from the movies, a guide who was as much a fan as a historian, and views that made us pause — this visit to Hohenwerfen Castle was not just a sightseeing stop, but one of the highlights of our European Adventure 2025.