The Grim Past of the Salzburg Witch Tower

If you visit the Schallmoos district in Salzburg, at the crossing between the street called Paris-Lodron-Straße and the Wolf-Dietrich-Straße, you’ll find a building with a mosaic on the façade depicting the silhouette of a person burning at the stake. That building is the site of the old Hexenturm Witch Tower. Want to know more? Read on!

The Hexenturm Witch Tower was initially used as a prison to incarcerate people that were suspected of practicing witchcraft. The original building was struck during the bombing of World War II and was, in fact, demolished after the war as it was so badly damaged. Although the actual prison has ceased to exist, its legacy remains.

The Grim Past of Salzburg’s Witch Tower

Even though the ill-treatment and harassment of witches was not a common phenomenon in Salzburg, there are records of numerous situations of torture and execution of witches under the influence of Prince Archbishop Max Gandolf von Kuenburg.

History tells that people who had been suspected of practicing witchcraft were kept in copper kettles within the Hexenturm, with the aim of "neutralising" their magic powers. Poor and homeless teenagers were particular targets of witch persecution. As a legacy of this practice, the Hexenturm was decorated with an iron woman riding a stick. This is now a piece of art that can now be seen in the Fortress Museum, which is also well worth a visit.

The Zauberer Jackel Trial

The so-called Zauberer Jackel Trial led to the executions of dozens of young vagabonds suspected of being witches and is seen as a particularly dark era in the city's history. The main suspect was a boy called Jakob Koller, who came from the nearby village of Mauterndorf. Incredibly, though, he managed to escape execution, while around 160 members of his alleged wizard crew were killed.

A Varied History

The Hexenturm was not just used as a prison for witches. Before the destruction of the building after the air raids in 1944, it was used as a storage facility for the company Josef Anton Zezi (between 1897 and 1910) in 1706, firstly to house gun powder and arms, and then building materials. Later still, it was again converted into a prison and, in 1804, the Hexenturm Tower passed into private hands.

How to Get There

Salzburg, in Austria, is a hugely popular destination and its accessibility makes it a pleasure to visit. There are rail and bus services from around Europe, but the most common way to arrive is via air. If you're flying into the city, the convenient range of Salzburg airport transfers are on hand to get you directly to your accommodation. If you do want to use the services of the Salzburg airport transfers it's recommended you book online before you leave, so you won't be left queuing at the stands once you arrive. There are various means of public transport to get you in to the city, however that can also often mean a queue, whereas a private or shared shuttle will deliver you straight to your door with no fuss or waiting.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Salzburg airport transfers, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.