# Kufstein Fortress

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The **Kufstein Fortress** (German: *Festung Kufstein*) is the main landmark of [Kufstein](/source/Kufstein), a town in [Tyrol](/source/Tyrol_(state)), [Austria](/source/Austria). It is sometimes wrongly referred to as *Geroldseck Fortress*. It is on a hill commanding Kufstein proper. Kufstein Fortress is 507 metres (1,663 ft) above sea level.[1]

The fortress is linked to the city below by the [Festungsbahn](/source/Festungsbahn_(Kufstein)), a [funicular railway](/source/Funicular_railway), or inclined lift, on a track that is 50 metres (160 ft) long.[2]

## History

The fortress was mentioned for the first time in a document from 1205, where it was called *Castrum Caofstein*. At the time, it was a possession of the Bavarian Duke Ludwig and the [bishop of Regensburg](/source/Bishop_of_Regensburg). In 1415, it was reinforced by [Louis VII, Duke of Bavaria](/source/Louis_VII,_Duke_of_Bavaria). It was a fiercely fought over fortress between Bavaria and the Tyrol and had a pivotal role in an armed conflict in 1336, when [Margrave](/source/Margraviate_of_Moravia) Charles of Moravia had to abandon his pursuit of the Bavarians when the fortress blocked his route.

In 1342, [Margarete "Maultasch"](/source/Margaret,_Countess_of_Tyrol), Duchess of the Tyrol, received Kufstein as a wedding present from her husband [Louis of Brandenburg](/source/Louis_V,_Duke_of_Bavaria), son of Emperor [Ludwig of Bavaria](/source/Louis_IV,_Holy_Roman_Emperor). This was the first time that Kufstein became part of the [Tyrol](/source/Tyrol_(state)). When Margarete handed all of the Tyrol to the Habsburg [Duke Rudolph IV](/source/Rudolf_IV,_Duke_of_Austria) in 1363, the Bavarians demanded that she return her original wedding gift and successfully invaded Kufstein.

In 1504, the city and the fortress were besieged and conquered by [Emperor Maximilian I](/source/Emperor_Maximilian_I). Maximilian had the massive round tower built between 1518 and 1522, substantially adding to its defensibility.[3] From 1703 to 1805 it was a [Bavarian](/source/Bavaria) possession, returning to [Austria](/source/Austria) in 1814.

The fortress acted as a prison for a number of political [dissidents](/source/Dissidents) under the [Habsburgs](/source/Habsburgs). Its name is deeply embedded in Hungarian history. The list of prominent Hungarians imprisoned in the fortress includes:

1. [Sen. Miklós Wesselényi](/source/Mikl%C3%B3s_Wessel%C3%A9nyi), a Hungarian nobleman, from 1785 to 1789;
1. [János Batsányi](/source/J%C3%A1nos_Bats%C3%A1nyi), a poet, from 1794 to 1796;
1. [László Szentjóbi Szabó](/source/L%C3%A1szl%C3%B3_Szentj%C3%B3bi_Szab%C3%B3), a poet, in 1795;
1. [Ferenc Kazinczy](/source/Ferenc_Kazinczy), an advocate of Hungarian language and literature, from 1799 to 1800;
1. [Klára Leövey](/source/Kl%C3%A1ra_Le%C3%B6vey), a teacher;
1. [György Gaál](/source/Gy%C3%B6rgy_Ga%C3%A1l), a Protestant preacher, from 1850 to 1856;
1. Countess [Blanka Teleki](/source/Blanka_Teleki), a socialite and educator, from 1853 to 1856;
1. [Sándor Rózsa](/source/S%C3%A1ndor_R%C3%B3zsa), Hungary's "Robin Hood", a revolutionary, from 1859 to 1865;
1. [Máté Haubner](/source/M%C3%A1t%C3%A9_Haubner), an evangelical bishop.

It was also where some 100 of the Poles arrested after the [1846 Kraków Uprising](/source/Krak%C3%B3w_Uprising) were held.

The fortress has an unusual war memorial, the [Heroes' Organ](/source/Heroes'_Organ) (*Heldenorgel*). This is the largest open-air organ in the world. It was constructed in 1931 as a memorial to the dead of World War One.[4] It is mentioned in the James Bond book *On Her Majesty's Secret Service*.

The fortress now houses the City Museum of Kufstein. Part of it is also used for concerts and meetings.

## Notes

1. [Kufstein Fortress Altitude and Position](https://elevationmap.net/innpromenade-6330-kufstein-austria?latlngs=%2847.580768,12.168654999999944%29)

1. ["Festungsbahn - Kufstein, Tirol, Austria - Public Funiculars and Incline Railways on Waymarking.com"](https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMEAP1_Festungsbahn_Kufstein_Tirol_Austria). *www.waymarking.com*. Retrieved 2025-07-18.

1. Chizzali. Tyrol: Impressions of Tyrol. (Innsbruck: Alpina Printers and Publishers), p. 44

1. ["A day in Kufstein: the best sights"](https://www.tyrol.com/things-to-do/attractions/all-attractions/a-heroes-organ). *www.tyrol.com*. Retrieved 2025-11-26.

## External links

- [Festung Kufstein](https://www.festungsarena.at/) - official site

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kufstein Fortress](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufstein_Fortress) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kufstein_Fortress?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.