Franziskischlössl

The Franziskischlössl is a former fortress on Salzburg’s Kapuzinerberg.The structure, which dates back to 1629, has housed an inn since the middle of the nineteenth century and is a listed building along with the other fortifications on the mountain.It is a component of the UNESCO World Heritage Historic Center of Salzburg.

During the Thirty Years’ War, Archbishop Paris von Lodron erected the Franziskischlössl in 1629, when Salzburg was undoubtedly the strongest guarded city in Central Europe.It was built as part of the fortifications to secure the Kapuzinerberg and the city of Salzburg, with its preserved 3 km long fortress wall in the south and east, artillery bastions in the west, and scarped (artificially steep) rocks in the north, including the two artillery bastions there (large and small Linzer Kavalier).The small castle served to the east (Fürberg) over a now-largely ruined wall, and over the Upper (now a vantage point) and Lower Gnigler Kavalier to secure the narrow valley and weir system there (Gnigler Schanze) to the Kühberg with Neuhaus Castle, and was part of the outer city wall, which also included most of the Kapuzinerberg.

The castle was built in honor of Saint Francis “so that peace on the mountain may last longer than ever.”The elegant wrought-iron railing that now leads to the bastion’s guest garden dates from the time it was erected.

As a result, the Franziskischlössl served as both a defensive construction and a hunting lodge during peacetime, notably under Max Gandolf von Kuenburg, who extended it by converting the gun holes into bigger windows and extending the roof.The castle could now be heated.Military prominence declined after the end of the prince archbishopric.After 1816, the castle was leased (subject to termination at any point during a conflict).The Franziskischlössl was solely occupied by an old soldier in 1848.There has been a constant inn since 1849, with the exception of a few years of war.

The historic, extremely big, rock-cut rainwater cistern was saved, however it was missing its stone fountain rim.The basement is notable for its north-facing gun embrasures, which were carved out of the enormous limestone rock.(The basement is not normally accessible).The outer defensive ditch, which was previously in front of the huge gun bastion d. H. in the east, has since been filled in.Only a little portion of the original moat with a bridge (formerly a drawbridge) has been maintained.The enormous park-like meadow region south of the castle, with its expansive views to the south, has been lost.

On bright days, the Franziskischlössl is a popular destination, with the approach to the castle commonly taking the Basteiweg directly along the historic Kapuzinerberg defense wall.