highline179 and Ehrenberg Castle in Reutte in Tyrol

Experience highline179 in Austria

What the Leaning Tower is for Pisa, St Stephen’s Cathedral is for Vienna and the Brandenburg Gate is for Berlin - that is what the ‘highline179’, the world’s longest suspension bridge, is for Reutte in Austria. This unique characteristic has earned an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest Tibet-style pedestrian suspension bridge. With a length of 406 metres, this bridge is currently the longest of its style.

The bridge was conceived to be usable year-round. It connects both castle areas of the Ehrenberg ruins to Fort Claudia. The bridge reaches a maximum height of 114 m above the mountain pass. The width of the walkway with steel grating plates is 1.2 m. It is held by four support cables, each with a diameter of 60 mm. To ensure the necessary safety measures, eight rock anchors of 25 m were staked into the ground. The longest suspension bridge of the world is listed with a weight of 77 tons. Thanks to LED lighting, the handrails are also visible at night. To ensure safety, a maximum of 500 people can be on the bridge at any one time. This is regulated by turnstiles on both ends of the bridge.

There is also an observation point at the base of a historic canon position. This vantage point is located near the suspension bridge 'highline179' and provides a spectacular view of the Ehrenberg and Reuttener Basin. A ‘close-to-nature’ hiking trail leads to Fort Claudia. There, the trail joins the existing path and can be used as a circular route.

During opening hours, tickets can be purchased at the visitor center of the Castle Ensemble in Reutte. Outside of opening hours, visitors can use the machines to purchase tickets. Administrative processing is done by the ‘Verein Europäisches Burgenmuseum’.

Ehrenberg Castle

At Ehrenberg Castle in Tyrol, a true cultural treasure awaits you. The old ruins house stories from more than 700 years. Travel back to the Middle Ages and follow the traces of the knights!

To be precise, the Ehrenberg Castle is no real castle. Ehrenberg rather consists of single parts of a powerful fortress and castle ensemble from the 12th century. Once a big defense facility and important customs station for the trade between north and south, it is a popular excursion destination for thousands of visitors per year today.

The Ehrenberg Castle consists of four elements:

• Ehrenberg Castle ruins: former Ehrenberg Castle & center of the facility
• Schlosskopf fortress: Show fortress with observation platforms & towers
• Hermitage fortress: was once the valley barrage and the customs station, today there is an adventure museum in the intact parts of the barrage
• Fort Claudia: part of the former castle barrier system

Hike Ehrenberg Castle

Near the municipality Reutte, the Ehrenberg Castle offers an extraordinary combination of culture and nature. The fortifications can be explored by foot and invite you to leisurely walks. Historical cultural sites and the breath-taking view of Tyrol’s mountain scenery make the hiking experience unique. From the hermitage you will reach the castle ruin in about 30 minutes, the Schlosskopf Castle and Fort Claudia in 60 minutes. A special highlight of the hike is the world’s longest suspension bridge: “highline179”. In a vertiginous height the bridge connects the Ehrenberg Castle and the Fort Claudia. An absolute must for adrenaline junkies! 

Knights games Ehrenberg

Especially popular are the knights games every year that are held at the end of July in the Ehrenberg Castle. The knights wake from their sleep and return to the deserted ruins after several centuries! On three days, actors enchant you with impressive knight tournaments, the historical battle of Ehrenberg as well as a big parade. The medieval fair will expect you with extraordinary goods and culinary specialties. To conclude the knights games Ehrenberg, big sound fireworks will await you.

Opening hours Ehrenberg Castle

The visitor center with tickets and shop is open every day from 9 am to 6 pm. In the winter, there are shortened opening hours from 10 am to 4 pm.
ATTENTION: During the shutdown, the tickets can be bought at the vending machine in front of the info center at the hermitage, at the west portal (castle ruins) or east portal (Fort Claudia). 
The museum of a special kind for the topic “On the tracks of the knight” is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm (10 am to 5 pm in the winter).

Entrance prices Ehrenberg Castle

Arrival from the Altstadthotel Zum Hechten: In only 20 minutes you will reach the Ehrenberg Castle near Reutte via the A7 highway and the Fern Pass Road B179.