Burghausen Castle
Burghausen Castle is considered the longest fortress, which can be seen not only in Germany but also across Europe. Burghausen Castle extends over 1043 meters in length and gives the title of the Bavarian village, which is located in the southern Bavarian region. The entire castle dominates the surrounding area from its high ridge, which stands on the west bank of the river Salzach, which outlines the border between Germany and Austria.
The entire complex is divided into a total of six yards and parts of the protective structure reach the village and are integrated into its city walls.
It is believed that the fortified building was in this place over the River Salzach over a million years ago, but the prototype of today's Burghausen is considered a wooden fortress built on a hill about 600 years ago. It was used for the residence of the Dukes of Bavaria, as well as having control and protection over the channels that carried the salt into the river itself.
The first expansion of the Burghausen Castle happened in 1090. Unfortunately most of this original medieval structure has failed to keep up nowadays. The castle remained the seat of the counts of Burghausen in 1163. In the same year the castle passed into the hands of Henry the Lion (Heinrich the Lion), which remained in Burghausen until 1180.
In 1255 Count Heinrich XIII significantly expands and enhances the fortress. The most important periods in the expansion of Burghausen , however, remained in the management of these last three counts of Lower Bavaria - Henry, George and Ludwig.
Current Burghausen is divided into six yard targets, each of which have separate fortified gates, a moat and a drop down bridge. Each of these parts of the complex has its own history, because they were built in different stages over the centuries.
The residence of the Duke was located within the first courtyard of the palace. There is a Gothic hall, known as Durnitz, another building nicknamed Kemenate, internal castle chapel which was built in the 13th century and the Treasury.
The second courtyard of Burghausen Castle is extremely large and spacious, but the buildings there are not restored. In the third courtyard you can see one of the best preserved hanging bridges of the Middle Ages. It is entirely wood, covering the span of 27 meters and boasts of an 8 meter depth.
The fourth courtyard of Burghausen is immersed in mysticism of the witches and scary medieval stories, because there it is called the Witches Tower and prison. In the fifth part of the castle can be seen another Gothic chapel of the 15th century and one of the main towers. The sixth courtyard of Burghausen is the largest and most changed over the centuries. In its own environment the Clock Tower stands.
Today you can see in the Burghausen Castle two museum exhibitions, but part of it is converted into student hostels.
