Salzburg is one of Europe's oldest and most fascinating cities. It is a city of two halves, with the Old Town housing some of the most popular tourist attractions and the modern part of the city just across the river housing a large number of hotels and other businesses.
Salzburg's Altstadt (Old Town)
Salzburg’s Altstadt has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1997. This area of the city boasts impressive architecture and contains some of the more popular tourist attractions.
Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) dates back to 1628 and is dedicated to St Rupert, who founded St Peters Monastery in the city around 700 AD. Its baroque architecture has survived the centuries relatively unscathed, except for one bomb during the Second World War which damaged the central dome.
Hohensalzburg Castle (Festung Hohensalzburg) dominates the skyline. Perched high above the city on a hill it is one of the largest castles in Europe and it can be reached by taking the little train which runs up the hillside. The views from the castle are spectacular and the castle should be a ‘must-see’ on any tourist’s itinerary.
The Birthplace of Mozart
Mozart’s Birthplace is also a very popular destination for the tourists. Salzburg’s most famous son was born in 1756 at 9 Getreidegasse. The house is now a museum housing his musical instruments, family letters and other exhibitions relevant to the composer. There is a statue of him in the Mozartplatz (Mozart Square) and his work plays a major part in the regular festivals held in the city. The composer’s face appears on everything from chocolate wrappers to mugs and he has become a major source of revenue for the city.
The Sound of Music
The Mirabell Palace is just outside the Altstadt and will be recognisable to film viewers as one of the locations used in The Sound of Music. Visitors are able to wander through the gardens and view the fountain, the collection of sculptures and the outdoor theatre. Other locations used in the film include the summer house at Hellbrun and St Peters Cemetery. There are several tour companies operating ‘Sound of Music’ tours to view all of these locations and more.
Things to do in Salzburg
Visitors also come to the city for shopping. The aforementioned Getreidegasse is a long narrow street which houses not just Mozart’s birthplace but a large number of shops to tempt all tastes. Souvenir shops range from the standard sellers of postcards, guidebooks and just about anything with Mozart’s face on it to the more unusual ‘Egg Shop’ where visitors can buy exquisitely hand painted egg shells. In November each year the Christmas markets arrive to sell festive gifts and decorations and visiting in winter gives a good excuse to partake of hot chocolate and cake in one of the many cafés.
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