Kufstein Fortress - Festung Kufstein
Festung Kufstein
28 March - 2 November Mo-Su 09.00-18.00, 3 November - 27 March Mo-Su 10.00-17.00.. Weekend: No
Adult - 15€, Children's (0-6) - Free, Children's (6-17) - 9€, Students (18-25) - 9€, Family (2+1) - 31,5€.
www.festung.kufstein.at
Festung 2, 6330 Kufstein, Tirol, Republik Österreich
47.580757, 12.168655
A Blue-White-Red Fortress Story.
First documented in 1205 as belonging to the Bavarian Duke Ludwig and the Bishop of Regensburg, Kufstein Fortress, as the scene of many battles, was frequently at the center of history and a hotly contested object between Bavaria and Tyrol. In 1336, it was at the heart of a military event for the first time. Margrave Charles of Moravia failed in his pursuit of the Bavarians at Kufstein Castle, which blocked his path.
Kufstein Falls to Tyrol.
In 1342, Margaret "Maultasch," Duchess of Tyrol, received Kufstein as a dowry from her husband, Ludwig the Brandenburger, son of Emperor Ludwig the Bavarian, on the occasion of their marriage. For the first time, it was thus united with Tyrol. When Margaret ceded all of Tyrol to the Habsburg Duke Rudolf IV in 1363, the Bavarians demanded the return of the dowry and successfully invaded Kufstein. Following the death of the then-ruler, Duke George the Rich of Landshut, in 1503, the Bavarian-Palatinate War of Succession broke out between the Upper Bavarian and Palatine branches of the Wittelsbach dynasty.
Emperor Maximilian and Kufstein Fortress.
The Habsburg King Maximilian I sided with Upper Bavaria. As ruler of Tyrol, gaining control of the lower Inn Valley was of particular interest to him, as the inclusion of Kufstein Castle held significant strategic importance. With the capture of Kufstein, Maximilian achieved his objective: Kufstein came into the possession of the House of Habsburg in 1504.
Bavarian Rule.
After almost 200 years, Bavarian occupation resumed in 1703 during the War of the Spanish Succession: Elector Max Emanuel advanced on Kufstein on his way to Italy. This siege was not lifted until the end of 1704, and Kufstein and its fortress were returned to Austria. Just 100 years later, the Bavarian flag once again flew from Kufstein Fortress: Napoleon I had shaken up Europe and annexed all of Tyrol, including Kufstein, to Bavaria.
Under the Red-White-Red Flag.
It wasn't until 1814 that Tyrol returned to Austrian rule. After the First World War, the Republic of Austria sold the fortress, which was acquired by the city of Kufstein and has been in its possession since 1924.
