Werfen is located in the Salzburger Alps and is a year-round holiday resort. Its most important attractions are the Eisriesenwelt ice cave and Hohenwerfen castle.
The settlement grew in the Middle Ages at the foot of the castle erected in 1075 by the bishop of Salzburg Gebhard. Over time, the fortress passed into different hands, including the Habsburg family, and during World War II it housed the NSDAP training center. Today, the castle standing on a rock is open to the public. The building is known from the movie "Only for eagles and as a background to the song Do-Re-Mi from the musical" Sounds of Music ".
To commemorate the "musical" episode in the town's history, the Route of Music Sounds was led to the places that were shown in the film.
The baroque residence Blühnbach is also located in the Werfen area. Initially, it was a hunting palace belonging to one of the noble families nearby, and in 1908 it was bought by Archduke Franciszek Ferdynand Habsburg. Today it is in the hands of an American millionaire and philanthropist Frederick R. Koch.
Next to the Hochenwarfen castle, the biggest attraction of Werfen is the Eisriesenwelt ice cave called the World of Ice Giants. It is the largest ice cave in the world and the total length of its corridors is 42 km. Part of the underground pavements is available for visiting with a guide. To get to the cave entrance you have to overcome a difficult trail that requires climbing skills. For people who have no experience in this type of hiking, a cable car was built, which is one of the steepest in Austria.
