ENTERING THE FORTRESS MAIN GATE

The Guardhouse gate on the south-east side of the eastern defenses is the current main entrance to the fortress. It was built about 1450. In the Middle Ages, the main entrance was a gate on the road up the steep western side of the mountain. The Guardhouse gate was connected to the horseshoe gun tower by a wall during the thirty year war.

Once past the guardhouse, a dry moat and castle wall provided the next defense area. This was the moat and castle wall of the fortress in medieval times.

A drawbridge crossed the moat in medieval times. Today, the moat has been filled in to make a roadway into the castle. Just behind the main wall is the foundation of the medieval gate tower.

The gate tower controlled the main medieval approach into the castle until 1580.

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