Salzburg
Salzburg is a stunning city, situated in the heart of Europe, in western Austria, on the northern boundaries of the Alps. Located about 300 km from Vienna and 140 km from Munich in Germany, Salzburg is regarded as one of the cultural capitals of the world. Salzburg is sometimes acknowledged as the City of Music, since it is the birthplace of world-famous musician, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. With its small alleyways, picturesque colorful town houses, and fabulous castles and palaces, Salzburg is undoubtedly a year-round tourist destination.
Salzburg Tourist Attractions
Hohensalzburg Fort
Built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard, Hohensalzburg Fortress (also known as Salzburg Fort) is one of the largest fortresses in central Europe. Apart from being a fortification, the fort once served as the residence of many prince archbishops. One of the great things regarding the fort is that it has never been conquered by any enemy troop. Among the attractions of the fort are the Golden Hall and the Golden Chamber graced with ornamental paintings and complicated Gothic wood-carvings. The fort now hosts the International Summer Academy, which attracts artists from across the world.
Mozart’s Birthplace and Residence
According to certain records, Mozart’s family lived here between the periods 1747 and 1773. Now, the residence has been converted into a museum, displaying items used by Mozart during his childhood days, such as, his violin, clavichord, and pianoforte.
St. Peter’s Burial Ground
This burial ground is one of the oldest as well as the most interesting cemeteries in the world. The area serves as the resting place for many renowned personalities, such as artists, scholars, and merchants.
Untersberg Mountains
A lovely ride to atop the Untersberg Mountains via a large cabin of cable car would be enjoyable. It allows you to enjoy the magnificent beauty of the Rositten Valley as well as the surrounding mountains.
Museums in Salzburg
- The Museum of Modern Art, located within a 17th-century building, is perhaps the most prominent among the museums in the region. Highlights include artworks of such renowned artists as Klimt and Kokoschka. A variety of temporary exhibits can also be seen here.
- Another popular museum is Museum of Natural History, exhibiting a variety of natural history collection and aquarium and reptile collections.
- Museums in Salzburg also include Cathedral Museum, whose specialties are Precious jewel-studded monstrance and Art and Rarities Collection. Exhibits also cover items such as gems, fossils, and carved ivory.
Churches
Most significant among the churches of the city is perhaps Salzburg’s Cathedral – an impressive structure with royal façade and mighty dome. Also, popular is OpeninKollegienkirche or Collegiate Church, designed by great baroque architect, Fischer von Erlach. In addition, Salzburg is also home to an amazing array of castles and buildings, each of them reflecting baroque architecture. No wonder why Salzburg is sometimes dubbed as the ‘Rome of the North.’
Festivals
Salzburg is a venue for such colorful as well as cultural festivals as Salzburger Festspiele, an annual event offering a range of concerts, operas, and theatrical plays, from classical to contemporary styles.
Stumble it!
October 6th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
[…] in the movie ‘Sound of Music’. There are many wonderful cities as well including Vienna, Salzburg and the towns in the alpine parts of the country like Hallstatt that are worth visiting. However, […]