Visited August 2025
| Location | Höch, Flachau, Austria |
| Entrance Fee | Yes |
| Railway Station Nearby | No |
| Parking | Yes |
| Facilities | Toilets, Bar |
Review
Höch Castle is a stunnung turreted palace in the Salzburger region of Austria. It is about 30-40 minutes drive from the city of Salzburg itself, to the very quiet village of Flachau. It is owned by the municipality and operated as a cultural centre, and wedding venue. There are regular classical concerts held there, as well as guided tours (advertised on the website) and also family open days which very much focus on children's activities.
It was originally built in 1209, although not in its current style. it was not built for defensive purposes, more as an adminsitrative centre of the area. It was given many facelifts over the years ; one time owner Karl Jocher, a wealthy mine owner, rebuilt it in its present form, and opulently refurbished the interior. The castle today is representative of the renaissance style.
The guided tour takes you through the interior of the castle and some of its rooms. We went there for a concert and were free to wander around and 'snoop' at the interior. Of special interest are the beautiful stoves which keep the castle warm in winter.
In 1658 the daughter of Karl Jocher married into the Von Plaz family , which signalled the beginning of the Von Plaz's ownership of the castle. This lasted until 1989, when the final Plaz family owner sold it to a wealthy ski manufacturer- who later went bankrupt. This was the chance for the municipality to buy the castle for public use- and they reputedly paid €2 million for the property.
Today it is a pleasant place to visit, with lots of green space outside for visitors to enjoy. It is a very pretty castle, perhaps more of what in German is known as a 'Schloss' (palace) but actually still identifable to us as a castle with its turrets, gatehouse and collection of weapons in the entrance hall.
The night we were there for a concert there was a bar in the castle, and of course there are toilets, but other than that no real facilities, although there are a few restaurants in the nearby village. It is also difficult to reach by public transport, but does have generous parking if you are planning to drive there.
More info: Hoech Castle
