Burghausen castle and old city, Germany

Burghausen is home to the longest castle in the world — a spectacular chain of fortifications running for 1,051 metres along a narrow ridge high above the town, a length confirmed by Guinness World Records. Set in Upper Bavaria on the River Salzach, which here marks the border with Austria, the castle occupies a spur between the river and the crescent-shaped Wöhrsee lake, a natural moat that made the site almost impregnable. First recorded before 1025 and held by the Wittelsbachs from 1168, it served from 1255 to 1503 as the second residence of the wealthy Dukes of Bavaria-Landshut, who turned it into one of the mightiest fortresses of the late Middle Ages, with walls up to five metres thick, six successive courtyards, halls, chapels and drawbridges. Below it spreads a handsome old town of arcaded, pastel-coloured merchant houses along the Stadtplatz.

What to See

The great pleasure of Burghausen is simply walking the full length of the castle, passing through one gate and courtyard after another as the complex unfolds along the ridge. At its southern end stands the main castle (Hauptburg), the ducal heart of the fortress, with its keep, the vaulted Dürnitz hall and two chapels; here several museums are gathered, including a castle museum of late-Gothic art and rooms of the Bavarian State Painting Collections, along with a city museum and a photography museum. Five outer courtyards step down the ridge to the north, each once a separate line of defence, holding former stables, an armoury, granaries and the inner and outer castle gates. From the ramparts and towers there are superb views over the red roofs of the old town, the green loop of the Wöhrsee and across the Salzach into Austria. Down in the town itself, the long Stadtplatz with its colourful gabled façades and the Gothic parish church of St James reward an unhurried stroll.

How to Get There and Practical Information

Burghausen lies in the far south-east of Bavaria, close to the Austrian border and roughly midway between Munich and Salzburg. It has its own railway station, reached by regional train from Munich (with a change, taking around two hours) or via Mühldorf; the old town and the foot of the castle are a short walk or bus ride from the station. Drivers will find car parks near the old town and by the Wöhrsee below the castle. The castle grounds and their six courtyards are freely open and can be walked at any time, while the main castle and its museums are ticketed and keep regular hours — generally daily in the main season and reduced in winter. Allow a couple of hours to walk the whole complex, and wear comfortable shoes for the cobbles and gentle climbs.