Burghausen Castle is the classic fairytale castle. The longest castle in Europe (1,043 metres) and one of the largest in Germany, it perches high above the small baroque town of Burghausen in Upper Bavaria on the Austrian border. The elongated castle complex has a total of six walled courtyards: the inner ward and five other courtyards. Each of these had its own important function, formed its own section of the fortifications and had its own gatehouse, moat and drawbridge. The towers provided accommodation for the forest warden, the clerk of the court, the granary master, the treasurer and the chancellor. Even the prince elector's master chimney sweep had a tower of his own. The bower (ladies' quarters) was in the first courtyard. Today the apartments that once belonged to the Duchess are home to the municipal museum. Impressive highlights on the principal floor of the main castle building (royal wing) include the Gothic Hall and the ducal suite, which with their mighty ceiling joists, weapons, wall hangings, paintings and furniture represent a typical 16th-century interior. The late-Gothic paintings on the floors above embody the spirit of the era.
The “Georgstor” gate in the second courtyard commemorates George's marriage to Hedwig of Poland in 1475, known as the historic “Landshut Wedding”. Hedwig's Chapel, which was built in her honour in the fourth courtyard, is a jewel of late-Gothic architecture. With its oats store and grain measurer's tower, the third courtyard was once used for stabling and the storage of animal feed. The defensive towers in the ring walls around the fifth courtyard provided living and working space for court officials and craftsmen.
Grouped around the inner castle ward at the southern end of the castle are the well-fortified residential quarters of the ducal court. On the town side is the Dürnitz, whose two impressive vaulted halls were once the royal household's wine cellar and dining hall.