Petersberg Castle

Archbishop Gebhard of Salzburg had Petersberg fortified in 1076, above Friesach. Presumably, these were primarily simple wooden structures that reinforced an already existing old defensive system.

Archbishop Konrad I, Count of Abensberg, began to massively expand the fortifications on Petersberg in 1124 and incorporate them into the city walls. Petersberg became the southeastern cornerstone in the dominion of the Archbishops of Salzburg. It served as an archiepiscopal secondary residence and occasionally as a refuge during armed conflicts. In 1263, Archbishop Philipp of Spanheim had to flee from the Bohemian King Ottokar, to whom the Salzburg possessions beyond the Tauern fell without a fight.

After the end of Ottokar's three-year rule, the Archbishops of Salzburg appointed captains to reside on Petersberg from 1267 onwards. These were mostly members of important noble families (Liechtensteiner, Kraiger, Silberberger, Weissenegger, etc.). From 1495, Archbishop Leonhard of Keutschach had the defensive structures on Petersberg modernized, giving them and the city fortifications their final appearance.

On Merian's copper engraving from 1649, the buildings were still completely preserved but already without roofs and windows. After the city fire of 1673, which also affected Petersberg, the now functionless structures remained ruins until the 20th century. In 1797, the French caused further damage. Petersberg remained in the possession of the bishops until the secularization of Salzburg in 1803 and then passed to the Austrian state. From 1893, the City Beautification Association endeavored to save the complex. In 1987, the city museum was housed in the keep.