Salzburg is a city in Austria, with a population of some 148,000 in 2005. If you've seen the movie
The Sound of Music, you may think you know all there is to see in Salzburg. Admittedly, it's tough not to burst into song when you're walking along the Salzach River, or climbing up to the Hohensalzburg fortress which looms over the city. But there's a lot more to this compact, courtly city than Julie Andrews and Mozart's birthplace...
The city will be one of the eight host cities in the 2008 European Football Championships.
Get in
By trainSalzburg's train station, the
hauptbahnhof, is centrally located. From Munich to Salzburg is about a two hour train ride, and international trains operate from Zurich, Zagreb, Ljubljana and Budapest to name a few destinations. Intercity trains operate very frequently (especially to Vienna where services are almost hourly).
By planeThe Salzburg W.A. Mozart International Airport () is situated about 20 minutes from the centre of the city. Connection with the city by bus . It has direct connections from Amsterdam, Berlin, Birmingham, Coventry, London, Maribor, Palma de Mallorca, Paris, Saint Petersburg, Vienna, many German cities, and Zurich. Get around
The best way to get around Salzburg is by foot. There is a network of city busses (
StadtBus, with numbers from 1 to 8. 24 hour ticket: 4,20 Euro. One week ticket: 11,40 Euro), which cover the whole city star-shaped from the center. If you travel by bus make sure you don't catch any of the last buses. They'll take you several miles out of town with your only way back by walking or should you be fortunate enough to wave down a taxi. With that said if you need to get somewhere late at night it may be best to either take a taxi or walk.
See
Once an archbishop's summer palace with lots of clever fountains and pretty gardens. When you take the tour stand next to the guide otherwise you'll get wet. Hellbrunn is surrounded by vast gardens, including a good children's playground with swings and flying fox, and a cold wading pool, and is a perfect place for a picnic or a long walk through the green. In the Steintheater (Stone Theatre), the first opera in Middle Europe was conducted. If you're travelling with children this is the place to visit because children and adults alike are amused. Getreidegasse - a long yet narrow street running parallel to the river in the centre of town, with lots of shops, famous for the old (or old-style) signs of profession outside each storeLocated on top of a mountain, the Festung offers breath taking views of Salzburg and the Alps. One area of the fortress offers visitors the chance to look down on a field below to find only one house - the executioner's residence. It was believed to live anywhere near the executioner was bad luck. Inside the fortress is a museum of medieval weapons, life on the fortess, and torture instruments. The Mozart family lived in this house in the heart of Salzburg from 1747 - 1773, where W.A. Mozart himself was born on 27 January 1756. The house is now a popular museum devoted to Mozart and his family, with interesting memorabilia and letters. Well worth a quick visit. Located right next to the Salzach river and the Mozarteum University of Music and Arts lies a beautiful castle with gardens, built by an archbishop for his beloved courtesan. Watch out for the "Garden of Dwarves" and the Garden of Roses. Inside, you find the marble stairs of Raffael Donner, and the world's most beautiful wedding hall, the Marble Hall. If you plan to marry there, reservations should be made at least a year in advance. Salzburg Museum of Modern Art (Museum der Moderne Salzburg) - One in the Old Town, Wiener Philharmonikergasse 9, and one on the Mönchsberg. Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-6:00, Wednesday 10:00-9:00, Closed Monday. St. Sebastian Cemetery - holds not only the graves of Mozart's wife Constanze Weber-Nissen, but also the must-see Mausoleum of Archbishop WolfdietrichSalzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom)St Peter's Church, Cemetery, and Catacombs - Perhaps most remarkable are the small catacombs carved into the nearby cliffside. Climb up for a couple of small chapels and a nice overlook.St Francis Church (Franziskanerkirche)Do
Salt Mines - There are a few different salt mine tours available in Salzburg's immediate surroundings. A good one is Salzwelten Salzburg in Bad Dürrnberg. Getting there is easy with the Salz Erlebnis Ticket, available at the train station; it covers the local train and a bus transfer (round-trip), admission, and the (required) Salzwelten tour. The tour is great for families, although children under 4 are not allowed on the tour. Put on white coveralls, ride a trolley into the mine, and use wooden slides to descend into the lower levels. A café and picnic benches are available on-site, as well as a small reconstructed Celtic village that includes a playground. Allow about 2 1/2 hours for the tour and the Celtic Village. Open April-October 9:00-5:00; November-December 10:00-3:00. Adults €16,50; Students/Juniors €9,90; Children €8,30. Family and Group tickets available. Salz Erlebnis Ticket: Adults €22,00; Children €12,70; Families with the ÖBB VORTEILScard €48,80.Chess Giant chess board painted onto the ground, past the cathedral(traveling away from the river). You'll have to wait your turn, but its worth it. ToursA number of companies run coach tours in and around Salzburg. By far the most popular of these are dedicated to the locations featured in
The Sound of Music:
Panorama Tours: Sound of Music - daily, leaves at 9.30am and 2pm, 4 hrs duration, adults €35, children 4-12 yrs €18Tours can also be taken from Salzburg to the Ice Caves, to the Bavarian Mountains and to Berchtesgaden....
FestivalsFor almost a century, Salzburg has hosted the world famous
Salzburg Festival , with operas, concerts, and theater plays in different locations throughout the city. It was founded by Hugo von Hoffmansthal, Max Reinhardt and Richard Strauss in 1920. It takes place in July and August, the most famous piece is the "Jedermann" ("Everyman") by Hugo v. Hoffmansthal, being conducted in front of the dome every year.
More recently, festivals also take place during Easter time (with mostly Baroque music), and in autumn (Jazz music).
Buy
Mozartkugeln ("Mozart balls") are a chocolate candy inspired by the famous composer, Salzburg's most famous son. Try the original version at Café Fürst; be aware, though, they are rather expensive, with a small box costing as much as €7. The more widespread Mirabell brand is sold in many tourist shops, but they are also available at most local grocery stores for a lot less.Eat
RestaurantsSome things on the menu you might not find in the dictionary - better ask before you order, or expect to eat sausage made of blood, or the kidney and lungs of the cattle.
Wilder Mann: traditional Austrian fare in the Getreidegasse.Zipfer Bräuhaus - Philharmonikergasse. A fair choice of traditional food.Augustiner Bräustübl - Bus stop Landeskrankenhaus. Beer garden with self-brewed beer, and market-like shops to buy food. You can bring your own food (not drinks!) if you want.Stiegl Keller - below the Fortress. A cellar up on a mountain, serving traditional food and the famous Stiegl beer right from the barrel.Zirkel Wirt - Papagenoplatz, Old Town - Delicious traditional and some not-so-traditional food, vegetarian-friendly, great beer, good atmosphere. Salzburg is the region with the most Gault Millau toques per capita. Some of the best restaurants of the world can be found here:
Hubertushof in Filzmoos, 4 toques for Johanna Maier (the only woman in the world with four toques!).Obauer in Werfen, 4 toques for Rudi Obauer.Saran Essbar Great schnitzel, as well as the dumpling. Run by a very nice guy.If you seek a special environment for your dinner, take a look at
Hangar 7, a top-cuisine restaurant and a great bar close to the airport.
Drink
BeerBeer garden with self-brewed beer, and market-like shops to buy food. You can bring your own food (not drinks!) if you want. On the Mönchsberg, bus stop Landeskrankenhaus. Bus stop Bräuhausstrasse on Line 1. Tour the brewery and museum and have a Stiegl in the brewery's own pub and beer garden. Guinness, cider, German and Austrian beer as well, occasional live music, and a nice atmosphere. Popular with local university students -- expect the place to be packed on a weekend night. Near the Justizgebäude bus stop. The Denkmal is a private club, so expect to pay a few Euro for a one-night temporary "membership" (just ask the bartender). Small, cozy, fun atmosphere, popular with university students. Sometimes live music.CaféTomaselli (Alter Markt). A traditional viennese coffee house, the oldest of Salzburg. Try the Einspänner and a Sacher cake!Fürst (Alter Markt). Exquiste pastry, and the place to buy the original Mozartkugel, invented by confectioner Paul Fürst in 1884.Republic (Griesgasse/Bus Stop Mönchsbergaufzug). A modern café with good breakfast, and a variety of cultural events (Jazz Brunch, Clubbing, special theme parties at night). Turns into one of the most popular places to be during night.Shakespeare (Hubert Sattler Gasse, close to Mirabell castle). Art café with good chinese kitchen, cheap lunch menus during the week.Sleep
Hotels in SalzburgLoads of
Hotels in Salzburg can be found on Panoramatours.
Hostels Breakfast and linens included. Internet, café/bar, common room. The Sound of Music shown nightly at 8:00 in the common room. BudgetEdge of old town in building constructed in 1380; the plumbing is slightly more modern. Mid-range A small family-run bed & breakfast, very close to the train station. Part of the Golden Tulip chain but with an inpendent feel, this hotel is just off the Linzergasse, close to all old town sights and a pleasant 5-10 min walk into the city centre. The hotel is incredibly good value, with lots of friendly welcoming touches, free mulled wine, a fantastic rooftop sauna/spa/winter garden complex (also free) and free Wifi internet access all over the hotel. Breakfast buffet included and served until 11am. Friendly staff too! Family-run three-star hotel just off the Linzergasse, close to all old town sights. Hosts are exceptionally friendly and knowledgeable. Breakfast buffet included. Splurge One of Salzburg's most ancient buildings-over 700 years old. The hotel is situated in a quiet alley off the world famous Getreidegasse. Over the hotel's 400-year history, its purpose was, and still is, to serve its guests according to the best in Austrian tradition.Get out
If you get tired of the city, you can visit the Ice caves south of Salzburg, or the salt mines close to the city. Silent Night, Holy Night, the famous christmas song, was composed and had its premier in Oberndorf, a small city next to Salzburg. You can see the Silent Night Chapel there.For people who prefer nature to sights, hiking on the Untersberg, a trip to Salzkammergut or the Königssee, or a visit to Bad Ischl may be interesting.Contact
InternetSalzburg has a growing number of options available for email and internet contact:
Internetcafé Cybar , Mozartplatz 5, tel +43 (0)662 / 844 822, mailto:office@cybar.at, open daily 9am-10pm - conveniently located in the city centre, this internet café offers terminals and wireless connection for users with laptopsBigNet Café in Judengasse
(Austro-Bavarian:
Såizburg) is the fourth-largest city in Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg. Salzburg's "Old Town" with its world famous baroque architecture is one of the best-preserved city centers in the German-speaking world, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is noted for its Alpine setting. It is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the setting for parts of the musical and film
The Sound of Music. Salzburg is also a student city, with three universities.
Geography
Salzburg is on the banks of the Salzach river, at the northern boundary of the Alps. The mountains to Salzburg's south contrast with the rolling plains to the north. The closest alpine peak – the 1972 m Untersberg – is only a few kilometers from the city center. The
Altstadt, or "old town", is dominated by its baroque towers and churches and the massive Festung Hohensalzburg. This area is surrounded by two smaller mountains, the Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg as the green lung of the city. Salzburg is approximately 150km east of Munich, Germany, and 300km west of Vienna.
Population development
Source: Statistik Austria , City of Salzburg Website
History
Ancient times and Middle AgesTraces of human settlements have been found in the area, dating to the Neolithic Age; probably it was later a Celt camp. Starting from 15 BCE, the small communities were grouped into a single town, which was named by the Romans as
Juvavum. A
municipium, from 45 CE it became one of the most important cities in the province of Noricum. Juvavum declined sharply after the collapse of the Norican frontier, such that by the late 7th century it had become a "near ruin".
The Life of Saint Rupert credits the saint with the city's rebirth. When Theodo of Bavaria asked Rupert to become bishop c. 700, Rupert reconnoitered the river for the site of his basilica. Rupert chose Juvavum, ordained priests, and annexed the manor Piding. Rupert named the city "Salzburg", and then left to evangelize among the pagans.
The name Salzburg literally means "Salt Castle", and derives its name from the barges carrying salt on the Salzach river, which were subject to a toll in the 8th century, as was customary for many communities and cities on European rivers.
The Festung Hohensalzburg, the city's fortress, was built in 1077 and expanded during the following centuries.
Independence from Bavaria was secured in the late 14th century.
Expulsion of the Protestants On October 31 1731, the 214th anniversary of Martin Luther's nailing of his 95 Theses to the Wittenberg School door, Roman Catholic Archbishop Count Leopold Anton von Firmian signed his Edict of Expulsion (not to be confused with many similar edicts of expulsion issued against the Jews in various cities in Europe), the
Emigrationspatent, declaring that all Protestants recant their non-Catholic beliefs or be banished.
Archbishop von Firmian declared that it was to be read publicly November 11 1731, the 248th anniversary of Luther's baptism. Believing that his edict would drive away a few hundred troublesome infidels in the hills around the town, Firmian was surprised when 21,475 citizens professed on a public list their Protestant beliefs.
Landowners were given three months to sell their lands and leave. Cattle, sheep, furniture and land all had to be dumped on the market, and the Salzburgers received little money from the well-to-do Catholic allies of Von Firmian. Von Firmian himself confiscated much of their land for his own family, and ordered all Protestant books and Bibles burned. Many children aged 12 and under were seized to be raised as Roman Catholics. Yet those who owned land benefitted from one key advantage: the three-month deadline delayed their departure until after the worst of winter.
Non-owner farmers, tradesmen, laborers and miners were given only 8 days to sell what they could and leave. The first refugees marched north through the Alps in desperately cold temperatures and snow storms, seeking shelter in the few cities of Germany controlled by Protestant Princes, while their children walked or rode on wooden wagons loaded with baggage.
As they went, the exiles' savings were quickly drained away as they were set upon by highwaymen, who seized taxes, tolls and payment for protection by soldiers from robbers.
The story of their plight spread quickly as their columns marched north. Goethe wrote the poem
Hermann and Dorothea about the Salzburg exiles' march. Protestants and even some Catholics were horrified at the cruelty of their expulsion in winter, and the courage they had shown by not renouncing their faith. Slowly at first, they came upon towns that welcomed them and offered them aid. But there was no place where such a large number of refugees could settle.
Finally, in 1732 Lutheran King Frederick William I of Prussia accepted 12,000 Salzburger Protestant emigrants, who settled in areas of East Prussia that had been devastated by the plague twenty years before. Their new homelands were located in what today is northeastern Poland, the Kaliningrad Oblast, and Lithuania. Other, smaller groups made their way to the Banat region of modern Romania, to what is now Slovakia, to areas near Berlin and Hannover in Germany, and to the Netherlands. Another small group made its way to Debrecen (Hungary).
On March 12 1734, a small group of about sixty exiles from Salzburg who had traveled to London arrived in the British American colony of Georgia seeking religious freedom. Later in that year, they were joined by a second group, and, by 1741, a total of approximately 150 of the Salzburg exiles had founded the town of Ebenezer on the Savannah River, about twenty-five miles north of the city of Savannah. Other German-speaking families – mostly Swiss Germans, Palatines and Swabians – also joined the Salzburgers at Ebenezer. In time, all of these Germanic people became known as "Salzburgers".
In 1772-1803, under archbishop Hieronymus von Colloredo, Salzburg was a centre of late Illuminism. In 1803, the archbishopric was secularized and handed over to Ferdinand III of Tuscany, former Grand Duke of Tuscany, and, two years later it was annexed to Austria together with Berchtesgaden. In 1810 it was returned to Bavaria, but after the Congress of Vienna (1816) it was again restored to Austria. In 1850 it became an independent territory of the Austrian crown.
20th century In 1921, in an unofficial poll, 99% of citizens voted for annexation to Germany. On March 13 1938, during the Anschluss, German troops occupied Salzburg; political opponents and Jewish citizens were subsequently arrested, and the synagogue was destroyed. Several POW camps for prisoners from the Soviet Union and other nations were organized in the area.
During World War II, the KZ Salzburg-Maxglan concentration camp was located here. It was a gyspy camp and provided slave labour to local industry. Allied bombing destroyed 7,600 houses and killed 550 inhabitants. Although the town's bridges and the dome of the cathedral were demolished, much of its Baroque architecture remained intact. As a result, it is one of the few remaining examples of a town of its style. American troops entered Salzburg on May 5 1945
In the city of Salzburg there were several DP Camps following World War II. Among these were Riedenburg, Camp Herzl (Franz-Josefs-Kaserne), Camp Mülln, Bet Bialik, Bet Trumpeldor, and New Palestine. Salzburg was the centre of the American-occupied area in Austria.
21st century As of 2006, Salzburg's Jewish community consists of little more than 100 people. The synagogue at Lasserstrasse 8 is still the religious center.
On January 27, 2006, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Mozart, all 35 churches of Salzburg rang their bells a little after 8PM (local time) to celebrate the occasion.
Main sights
Salzburg is a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times. In addition to Mozart's birthplace noted above, other notable places include:
Old TownThe whole Old Town of Salzburg was nominated as a World Heritage Site in 1996.The baroque architecture including the many churches are world famous.The Salzburg CathedralThe fortress Hohensalzburg on a hill dominating the old town is one of the largest castles in Europe, with views over Salzburg. The FranziskanerchurchThe St.Peter cemeteryThe Nonnberg Abbey a Benedictine monasteryThe "Residenz" Palace (the magnificent former Prince-Archbishop's residence)Mozart's BirthplaceMozart's ResidenceThe University ChurchThe Siegmundstor (or Neutor) The GetreidegasseOutside the Inner Old Town Palace of Mirabell with its wide gardens full of flowersThe palace of Leopoldskron is a rococo palace and a national historic monument in Leopoldskron-Moos, a southern district of the city of Salzburg.Hellbrunn with its parks and castlesTour companies operate tours of locations used in the film The Sound of Music.Within the greater Salzburg areaAnif CastleThe Basilika Maria Plain on the Calvary Hill, a late Baroque church, on the northern edge of Salzburg. Salzburger Freilichtmuseum Großgmain, an open-air museum containing old farmhouses/farm buildings from all over the state assembled in historic setting.The Schloß Klessheim Palace (today a Casino) was formerly used by Adolf HitlerThe Berghof, Hitler's mountain retreat of which only the Eagle's Nest remains, was in nearby BerchtesgadenThe Salzkammergut is an area of lakes in the Salzburg state, east of the city and further on into the provinces of Upper Austria and Styria.The Untersberg mountain is next to the city, straddling the German-Austrian border, and on a clear day provides panoramic views of the city and the Alps.Skiing is a key attraction during winter. Salzburg itself has no skiing facilities, but it acts as a gateway to skiing areas to the south. During the winter months its airport receives a large number of charter flights from around Europe.Notable citizens
The composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and raised in Salzburg, for whose archbishops he worked from 1769 to 1781. His house of birth and residence are tourist attractions. His family is buried in a small church graveyard in the old town, and there are many monuments to "Wolferl" in the city.Christian Doppler, an expert on acoustic theory, was born in Salzburg. He is most known for his discovery of the Doppler effect.Josef Mohr was born in Salzburg. Together with Franz Gruber, he composed and wrote the text for "Silent Night". As a priest in neighbouring Oberndorf he performed the song for the first time in 1818.Noted writer Stefan Zweig lived in Salzburg for about 15 years, until 1934.Maria Von Trapp (later Maria Trapp) and her family lived in Salzburg until they fled to America following the Nazi takeover.Salzburg is the birthplace of Hans Makart, a 19th-century Austrian painter-decorator and national celebrity. Makartplatz (Makart Square) is named in his honour.Writer Thomas Bernhard was raised in Salzburg and spent part of his life there.Herbert von Karajan was a notable musician and conductor. He was born in Salzburg and died in 1989 in neighbouring Anif.Anthropologist Gerardo Reichel-Dolmatoff was born here.Roland Ratzenberger, Formula One driver, was born in Salzburg. He died in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.Joseph Ignaz Leitgeb, French horn virtuosoEvents
The Salzburg Festival is a world-famous music festival that attracts visitors during the months of July and August each year. A smaller Salzburg Easter Festival is held around Easter each year.The Europrix multimedia award takes place in Salzburg.Transportation
The city is serviced by comprehensive rail connections, with frequent east-west trains servicing Vienna, Munich, Innsbruck, and Zürich, including daily high-speed ICE services. The city also acts as a hub for south-bound trains through the Alps into Italy.
Salzburg Airport has scheduled flights to European cities such as Frankfurt, Vienna, London, Amsterdam and Zürich, as well as Dublin and Charleroi. In addition to these, there is an even greater number of charter flights.
In the main city there is a trolleybus and bus system with more than 20 lines, and service every 10 minutes. Salzburg also has an S-Bahn system with four Lines (S1, S2, S3, S11), trains depart from the main station every 30 minutes. Suburb line number S1 reaches the world famous Silent Night chapel in Oberndorf in about 25 minutes.
Popular culture
In the 1960s, the movie
The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg and the state of Salzburg. The movie was based on the true story of Maria von Trapp, a Salzburg-based nun who took up with an aristocratic family and fled German occupation. Although the film is not popular among Austrians, the town draws many visitors who wish to visit the filming locations, alone or on tours.
Sports
The former SV Austria Salzburg reached the UEFA Cup final in 1994. On April 6, 2005 Red Bull bought the club and changed the name into FC Red Bull Salzburg. The clubs future plans are to be among the 10 best Europe football clubs. The home Stadium of Red Bull Salzburg is the Wals Siezenheim Stadium in a suburb in the agglomeration of Salzburg, will be one of the venues for the 2008 European Football Championship.
Salzburg was a candidate city for 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It was a favourite in its 2010 bid, but lost to Vancouver, Canada. On January 24 2005, Salzburg was once again selected by the Austrian Olympic Committee as their applicant city for the 2014 Winter Olympics. It was selected as a candidate city by the IOC on June 22 2006 along with Sochi, Russia and PyeongChang, South Korea but was eliminated in the first round of voting on July 4 2007 in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Sochi was selected as host city of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Salzburg is expected to try through at least the 2022 Games in order to win a bid.Sister cities
Reims, France, since 1964Atlanta, USA, since 1967 Verona, Italy, since 1973Dresden, Germany, since 1991 Kawasaki, Japan, since 1992Meran, Italy, since 2000Shanghai, China, since 2004Bern, Switzerland, since 2006 Gallery
Image: Untersberg (16).JPG|The Salzburg basin
Image: Salzburg (34).JPG|Salzburg seen on takeoff from Salzburg Airport
Image: Salzburg (16).JPG|The fortress (background), Salzburg Cathedral (middle), River Salzach (foreground)
Image:The_fortress_at_day.JPG| A sunny day on the fortress
Image: Salzburg (4).JPG|Festung Hohensalzburg (background), Kapitel Square with the "Pferdeschwemme", (foreground)
Image:Feb20532.JPG|ÖBB rail connection to Salzburg in Innsbruck
Image:Untersberg_Feb20522.jpg|Untersberg mountain
Image:Feb20516.JPG|Mozart Monument
Image:salzburg.fountain.500pix.jpg|Fountain in the Residenzplatz
Image:P1060482.JPG|Mirabell Gardens.
Image:mozart.birth.500pix.jpg|Mozart's birthplace
External links
Culture-related - Article by Brian Robins: "Mozart's Salzburg".Olympic-relatedSalzburg 2014 -- 2014 Olympic bid websiteTourism-relatedSalzburg City Tourist Office – Official tourist board website.Salzburg-Night – Nightlife Guide.Visit Salzburg - Local informationSalzburger Nachrichten – Tourism site maintained by the local newspaper, Salzburger Nachrichten.Tourist information for all cities and villages in the country of Salzburg incl. accommodation Salzburg Tourism Tourist attractions in Salzburg, with descriptions and maps Pictureserver Views of SalzburgGeorgia Salzburger Society – The website of the Georgia Salzburger Society, descendents of the refugees who settled in Georgia after their expulsion from Salzburg in 1731.LonelyPlanet SalzburgPictures from Salzburg (within a Salzburg/Burghausen slideshow) AIS-Salzburg - The American International School-SalzburgMain touristic attractions in Salzburgotherstrolley and diesel buses in SalzburgDigitised Salzburg objects in The European Library
