Salzburg
Salzburg is a beautiful city as if descended from the pages of a fairy tale. It is located at the northern foot of the Alps on the banks of the Salzach River. Moreover, it is the fourth largest city in Austria. The city attracts travelers from all over the world with stunning mountain scenery, breathtaking history, and unique architecture. Here, buildings in the styles of Gothics, Baroque, and Renaissance are combined with modern architecture and buildings of post-war modernism. The city used to be widely known due to the sale of the purest salt from nearby mines. In turn, nowadays, it is famous throughout the world as the birthplace of the great Mozart — a genius who gave immortal musical masterpieces to mankind.
Administrative division of Salzburg
The New Town is situated opposite the Old Town, on the right bank of the Salzach River on the Kapuzinerberg Mountain. The younger part of Salzburg was built in the XVII-XVIII centuries. You can find the Mirabellgarten Park, Mozart's House, the Church of St. Sebastian, and other interesting historical, architectural, and cultural monuments.
A separate area of the city is the peak and the neighborhood of Mount Festung. The first city-forming fortress, Hohensalzburg, is situated here, on a huge square, where you can walk through the museum, see the monastery, and have a look at the palace.
All areas of this fascinating city are interesting in their own way and worthy of tourists' attention.
City attractions on the Salzach River
The fabulous Salzburg is inspiring and encouraging. In its centuries-long history, this city has amassed a collection of magnificent works of architecture, rising majestically against the backdrop of the Alpine mountains. Salzburg is rightly considered one of the most picturesque places in Austria.
Population of Salzburg
Salzburg: from a "salt castle" to "crown land"
In the early 1800s, as a result of the Napoleonic conquests, Salzburg came under Austrian influence.
During World War II, the city was constantly bombed and destroyed, and as a result, most of its buildings were damaged. But, to the delight of the Austrians, the heart of the city, its historic center, survived almost entirely. The Allies of Austria liberated Salzburg on May 5, 1945.
Modern Salzburg is a favorite city of tourists visiting Austria. The Old Town, which miraculously survived the war, is on the honorable, protected list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
The best time to visit Salzburg
Useful notes
To avoid spending a fortune on museums and public transport, we recommend buying the Salzburg Card. It entitles you to travel for free within the city (including the funicular railway) and provides free admission to most museums. Discounts in stores and concert halls will be a pleasant bonus.
You can pleasantly surprise the locals by greeting them "grus Got", which translates as "hello God". It is customary to greet the locals in such a way. They will appreciate such a greeting and smile and maybe give a nice discount.
Things to do in Salzburg
- Climb Mount Capuchinerberg. You can get here by cable car, stairs, or a serpentine. In any case, you can see the entire city and the Hohensalzburg fortress, which we definitely recommend you visit separately. During the Middle Ages, the castle was constantly expanded and rebuilt, and today it is the largest medieval castle in Europe.
- Admire the Mirabell Palace and the surrounding area. It is a delightful architectural and park composition with a snow-white palace and a stunning landscape. "Mirabell stands for "beauty," and it is truly a mesmerizing sight.
- Stroll down the old shopping street Getreidegasse and see the house where the great Mozart was born. It is a museum apartment, which contains personal belongings and works of the composer. This part of the old city is decorated with authentic signs, stylized in the old days. Getreidegasse offers an abundance of stores, cafes, and restaurants.
- Admire the Residence of Archbishops and the Cathedral. Both are very close by and will amaze you with their beauty. It is worth mentioning that Mozart's parents were married in this very cathedral. And art lovers will be interested in visiting the art gallery, located in the Residence of the Archbishops, where there are paintings of masters of the XVI-XIX centuries.
- Enjoy the majestic sound of the organ at Mozarteum University. And, at the same time, you can admire the colossal Art Nouveau building of the university itself. Mozart's letters are preserved here, and nearby, there is the small house where he composed the Magic Flute.
- Visit the Dürnberg salt mines on the outskirts of Salzburg. There is a small underground lake hidden here, on which you can ride a wooden ferry. And a colorful little train will take you to the surface.
- Watch an unusual show at the Mechanical Theater, which will not leave anyone indifferent. It is located a few kilometers from the city, in Hellbrunn — the country residence of the Archbishop. It offers performances of 256 moving figures depicting the medieval domestic scenes to the sound of a water organ. In addition to the theater, there is the Hellbrunn Palace, an amphitheater, a park with unusual fountains, grottos, sculptures, the Stone Theater, and the castle on the side of the mountain.
- Try the local dessert. It is definitely worth having a cup of fragrant Austrian coffee with the traditional dessert Nockerln, which symbolizes the three hills surrounding the center of Salzburg.
Map Salzburg
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