Burg zu Burghausen

Find out what to expect of a visit to world’s largest castle!

How to get to Burghausen

You drive by car to Burghausen to see the longest castle in Europe, but with the dog, of course, you prefer to combine it with a nice walk. Burghausen Castle is really a must see on a vacation to Bavaria, especially because it is the longest castle in the world, but also because of the castle’s beautiful location on a headland in the Salzach River.

If you walk up the grounds of the castle, which we have done at least three times over the years, you can see the different construction phases of the castle as you walk down this long castle passing perfectly by.

View of the castle

The best view of Burghausen Castle is from the Austrian side of the Salzach River. This spot is easy to find if you search for “viewpoint Burghausen” on Google Maps. You park your car near a playground and then walk to a viewpoint marked with a large painting frame.

The view from the Austrian side

Hiking to Burghausen Castle

There are several beautiful hikes to Burghausen Castle in hiking apps. Surely the most beautiful is the 15.2 kilometer hike from the Raitenhaslach Monastery. The beautiful monastery idyllically situated on the Salzach River is a great starting point for a hike to Burghausen. There is plenty of parking at the monastery, which has a good restaurant, to start your hike.

From the monastery the hike takes you along the high side of the river. First on your way out you pass the beautiful pilgrimage church of Marienberg. From this high position along the Salzach we have a beautiful view of the Salzach and see the castle of Burghausen looming in the distance. The hike then takes you further along a beautiful green footpath to the town of Burghausen. Having arrived there, you then walk around the recreational lake located below the castle called Wöhrsee.

After crossing this lake, we climb the castle. A short climb up some stairs leads to the courtyard just before the main castle. So keep this in mind if your dog does not climb stairs. For Shampoo, the way up was not a problem, as he was often able to walk up the steps on the grass on the way up. The castle is the ideal place for a stop. The castle Burghausen has excellent catering facilities where you can take a rest after your climb (note that only cash payments are accepted here).

After you and your dog catch your breath, the hike goes down via the city side. Now you will really have to carry your dog if he does not walk stairs, because the stone steps into the city side do not have side borders. Through the quaint downtown Burghausen, you walk back to the Salzach waterfront, which takes you back to Monastery Raitenhaslach via a beautiful hiking and biking trail.

The way back is truly beautiful. The river races through the landscape and is surrounded by greenery on both sides. In the beginning you can occasionally look back to get a glimpse of the castle, but the winding river soon hides the high and mighty castle from view. After about 15 kilometers you then come back to the courtyard of Raitenhaslach Monastery via a set of stairs.

The restaurant is the ideal place to recuperate from your long walk. The cozy terrace of the Restaurant and Hotel of Monastery Raitenhaslach invite you to eat something. Dogs are welcome inside and on the terrace.