Germany - Burghausen

Burghausen was first mentioned in an official document in the year 1025. But excavations at the castle have shown that the area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. The town has developed over thousands years, but it is not possible to say how long there has been a permanent settlement.

From the 13th century Burghausen became a wealthy city due to the trade of salt, which came from Hallein (Austria) using the river Salzach. The salt was brought ashore in Burghausen and transported further overland. The income from the salt trade was lost in 1594 because of the establishment of the ducal salt monopoly.

After that the town experienced more than 300 years of administrative and commercial decline. By the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th, Burghausen had become an impoverished provincial town with barely 2.500 inhabitants. However an economic upturn began in 1915 with the establishment of an important chemical company.

The unique romantic character of the old town is preserved and the town square offers many architectural gems and is considered being one of the most beautiful squares in Central Europe.

Burghausen Castle is situated on a hill above the town. The castle complex measures 1,051 metres from one side to the other, making it the longest castle in the world. The complex today includes the main gothic castle structure, a gothic-style chapel, several museums, one inner and five outer courtyards.

(Panorama stitched of 4 pictures.)