Everyone is familiar with the striking castle from Disney's Sleeping Beauty. With tall steeple peaks, winding staircases, and, of course, the famed tower that held the forbidden spindle, the castle itself made an impression. Similar to how Bram Stoker's Dracula was said to be inspired somewhat by Bran Castle, there's also a castle in Germany that's said to have been the inspiration for Aurora's home. That castle goes by the name of Burg Hochosterwitz and it's nothing sort of astounding.
From the outside, the castle resembles an impenetrable fortress with seemingly no way in, and it was actually designed that way. This castle is hiding more surprises than one and as a medieval-era fortress, it was one of the best of its kind. Rising high above the surrounding landscape, it would have intimidated any enemy that threatened to break past one of its (14) gates, all of which were fortified and also had secondary, secretive barriers that would have protected the interior walls of the castle. The design and architecture of the castle are stunning, but it's the defense system that makes this medieval building so mind-blowing.
Fourteen Gates And 14 Methods Of Defense
The miraculous thing about Burg Hochosterwitz is the fact that each gate was defended by multiple stations. The Bergfried, which was the square-shaped tower at the top of the castle, would have been manned by someone with a crossbow during the 14th and 15th centuries. This tower was responsible for keeping watch over the main courtyard as well as granting views of nearly every access point of the castle.
Each of the individual gates was also designed with their own defenses in place; for example, one gate featured a set of spikes that would come down on any unwanted visitors which, at the time, would have been the Turks. There was also another way into the castle which was called 'fools stairs,' and it was a rugged, rough route carved into the rock of the base of the castle. This area was also defended regularly but allowed access to the castle without the need for bypassing any of its 14 gates.
The Church
The church is another stunning part of the castle and is outfitted with Italian marble at its gate, creating a grand entrance. Although the original structure was built in 926, it was rebuilt again by Georg Khevenhüller in 1586 with the intent to be a protestant church. The architectural significance continues inside of the church where the altar was carved by a famous sculptor from South Tyrol, Michael Bacher. The Khevenhüller is housed in the church's crypts and occasionally, visitors can hear the bell that was donated in 1585 by Georg Khevenhüller.
The Armory
The armory is truly the heart of Burg Hochosterwitz as it's where the weapon and armor collection is housed. The main goal of the surrounding fortress was for protection, something Georg Khevenhüller was adamant about, and thus many of the means for this protection was preserved and are now on display. Visitors can tour the armory and see a myriad of medieval weapons and battle arraignment, from halberds, swords, armor, and everything in between.
One of the earliest-known firearms, Bombarde, dates back to the 14th century and is also on display for visitors. The armory also houses enemy weapons from the Turks, which include bows, arrows, crossbows, and even daggers. It's one of the earliest collections of knighthood and with its pristine conditions, it's practically a haven for those fascinated with the medieval ages and its battle history. It's nothing short of a step back in time upon entering the armory, which is filled to the brim with period-accurate artifacts.
The Inclined Railway
Something that definitely was not part of the original construction of the castle, but still a worthy experience, is the inclined railway. This railway was built in 1993 and ascends a distance of 105 meters, with visitors reaching the top in roughly a minute and a half. It not only provides spectacular views of the castle on the way up and down but allows visitors to reach great heights without traversing the stairs or inclines leading to the castle's highest towers. This unique addition sets Burg Hochosterwitz apart from many others which require a grueling walk - or a hike, in some cases - to the top. It's estimated that roughly one million people have used the inclined railway since its construction, confirming the fact that it has allowed many to see parts of the castle that would otherwise be inaccessible or tough to get to.