The region of Salzburg has a long and varied history, due to its location on the edge of the Alps but also to huge mining deposits. Under the Romans it was a local centre. Later the Bavarians colonized the valleys and established a dependent seat of an archbishop. The investiture controversy in the late 11th century led to a fundament change in the political role of the archbishops of Salzburg, when they became leaders of the papal party and began to found large barricades and castles in the valleys, as well as regional strongholds in their widespread European possessions. In the early 12th century Salzburg managed to establish a loyal aristocracy, administering the country from a growing number of castles. Their castles built a tight net of feudalism, uniting small countries for the church. In the following century these regions grew together and were strengthened by new cities and castles. With three new bishop-seats the title of an perpetual papal legate and a prospering mining industry, Salzburg reached the status of an esteemed principality, which stayed independent until its abolition in 1805. Both the historic and architectural significance of Salzburg`s castles of the 11. to 13. century reflect a period of growing self-esteem, when they became the fundament of the archbishops policy. This book at hand, developed from a relevant dissertation, sheds light on the yet unexplored phenomenon of archiepiscopal castle-building, first focusing on the history of each individual castle, then putting them in a regional and historical context. New issues where found on many objects, which enable a unique comparisons with other episcopal castles in Europe, the. mayor castles even playing the role of an antetype for the larger region. This book about the early Salzburg castles therefore closes a significant gap in Austrian building history and presents a basis for the understanding of their significant role in the medieval architecture in the centre of Europe.