Kufstein Fortress

The main landmark of Kufstein, its 13th century fortress sits on a hill overlooking the city 507 m above sea level. In its early history it was controlled by the Bavarians, first under Bavarian Duke Ludwig and the bishop of Regensburg, from 1415 onward by Duke of Bavaria Louis VII. The strategic importance of the fortress made it a frequent battleground throughout history between Bavarian and Tyrolean armies. Ironically, Kufstein transitioned peacefully from Bavaria to Tyrol when the son of Bavarian emperor Ludwig gifted the city to his newly wedded wife Margarete, Duchess of Tyrol, in 1342. The peace didn't last long however, and in 1363 the Bavarians attacked the city and took control of the fortress from the Tyroleans. Control switched back to Tyrol after emperor Maximilian I besieged the city in 1504, and expanded the fortress with the addition of the massive round tower constructed between 1518 and 1522. The increased defensive capabilities of the fortress successfully held back the Bavarians until 1703, an occupation that lasted little over a century until the Austro-Hungarian Empire finally regained control in 1814. It then served as prison for Hungarian political prisoners. Since modern times the fortress houses the City Museum of Kufstein, and is frequently used for concerts and other cultural events.