Felberkasten

The Felberturm stands in Felben, a village on the edge of Mittersill in the Salzach valley. It is one of the last remains of the small medieval castles that once guarded the entrance to the Felber valley. The square tower is built of river stones, slate and gneiss blocks laid in herringbone pattern. Its corners are reinforced with carefully cut ashlar blocks.

The tower has served as a grain store, a noble residence and even a stage for Passion plays. Today it houses the Felberturm Museum, opened in 1969 and refurbished in 2020. The ground floor shows the equipment of the pack-animal drivers who crossed the Tauern passes. The first floor traces Mittersill’s growth from market to town, including its iron and leather crafts and the notorious witch trial of 1675.

Visitors climb to the upper floors by a modern staircase. The second floor is a multi-purpose hall for events, while the adjoining farmhouse displays daily life of the local farming families. Outside, the church of Mittersill can be seen from the north-facing window niches. The old entrance, once reached by a ladder, is now sealed. The museum’s displays and a small play area in the former school building complete the visit.