Tour audio Guided tours through the castle gates

Welcome to one of Carinthia's most impressive sites – Hochosterwitz Castle. I invite you to join me on a journey into the past and let yourself be captivated by this impressive stronghold. Our journey begins here at the foot of the castle. In the next few minutes, we will climb the spectacular ascent through the 14 gates that protected the castle from enemies for centuries.
But before we start our way up, let's pause for a moment and take in this historic beauty. Hochosterwitz Castle has been perched on this mighty rock near St. Veit an der Glan for over 1150 years. It was first mentioned in a document in 860, and in the 16th century it was rebuilt and expanded to its present state by the Khevenhüller family, in particular by Baron Georg Khevenhüller. Since then, it has been in family ownership and is still maintained by descendants today.
What makes this medieval stronghold unique is the ascent. This is no simple task, as you pass through 14 artistically designed gates, each with its own history and architectural sophistication. This layout made the castle virtually impregnable, as attackers faced a new challenge with each gate. Hochosterwitz Castle is a fortification, which is why most of the objects in the castle museum are weapons and armor. The gates you are about to pass through were built between 1570, before Georg Khevenhüller officially acquired the castle, and 1585.
Today, the museum houses an armory with weapons, exhibits on the Khevenhüller family history, a collection of Renaissance paintings, the castle chapel, and a smithy. But let us begin our ascent and allow yourself to be enchanted by the breathtaking view.