10 Best Places to Visit In Salzburg
Whether you’re a music aficionado, a museum devotee, or a mountain climbing fanatic, Austria’s fourth-largest metropolis, Salzburg, affords one thing to captivate each traveler. There are so many things to do in Salzburg. This quaint, elegant, and picturesque metropolis is known for being the birthplace of composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in addition to being the first filming location for the basic movie, The Sound of Music. So are you prepared to discover Salzburg? Let’s Go!
1. Salzburger Altstadt (Old Town Salzburg)
Salzburg’s Old Town, also called Salzburger Altstadt, is certainly one of Europe’s most spectacularly outdated cities. Located on the left bank of the Salzach River, guests can get misplaced for hours marveling at Salzburg’s superbly preserved medieval and baroque structure, in addition to its slim winding streets, vibrant environment, and pastel-colored buildings.
With highlights corresponding to Getreidegasse, Mozart’s Birthplace, Salzburg Cathedral, and Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburger Altstadt is crammed to the brim with architectural treasures, charming boutiques, and essential spiritual sights.
If you’ve additionally come to Austria to dabble in culinary delights, right here’s the place to do it – as among the nation’s greatest cafes, eating places, and beer gardens are positioned proper right here. In comparability to different outdated cities in Austria, corresponding to Vienna, I can safely say that Salzburg’s Old Town is my favourite.
2. Mirabell Palace and Gardens
Mirabell Palace and Gardens is a placing Baroque palace advanced cherished by guests for each its magnificence and historic significance. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the palace was constructed as early as 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau and later expanded within the 18th century. The Mirabell Palace at present serves because the municipal workplace for the Mayor and City Council of Salzburg however was initially used largely as a pleasure palace.
Like a lot of Salzburg’s sights, Mirabell Palace was designed with just a few architectural types in thoughts, particularly, the Late Renaissance and Early Baroque types. With eye-catching options corresponding to its grand arched home windows and use of marble as one of many palace’s major supplies, the outside of Mirabell Palace is certainly one of Salzburg’s most spectacular buildings.
Speaking of marble, contained in the palace, guests can discover Marble Hall (in any other case generally known as Marmorsaal), one of many Palace’s highlights.
Pegasus Fountain
While strolling by Mirabell’s immaculately stored gardens, don’t overlook to go to the Pegasus Fountain – an iconic image of Salzburg itself. The Pegasus Fountain includes a statue of a legendary winged horse surrounded by a water fountain and is a well-liked spot for photographers. Other issues to see across the Mirabell Gardens embody the Rose Garden, Dwarf Garden, Hedge Theatre, and its many flowerbeds, sculptures, and enchanting pathways. You can’t go to Salzburg and never pay a go to right here.
You would possibly acknowledge the grounds of Mirabell Palace and Gardens in case you’ve ever watched the 1965 film, ‘The Sound of Music’. It’s right here, on the grand staircase and the Pegasus Fountain, the place the movie’s well-known ‘Do-Re-Mi’ scene was shot. Due to its look within the movie, the Mirabell Palace and Gardens have gained worldwide recognition as an immediately recognizable Hollywood location. If you’re a fan of the film, then this Sound Of Music tour is true up your alley.
3. Fortress Hohensalzburg
Salzburg is a metropolis stuffed with breathtaking viewpoints, and Fortress Hohensalzburg is likely one of the greatest locations for a very unforgettable view. I visited round sundown time, and because the solar started to set, the sky unfolded right into a dreamy mix of purple, pink, and blue colours. From up there, you’ll additionally find a way to witness Salzburg’s magical surrounding Alpine surroundings, which serves as the right backdrop to town’s beautiful buildings. Inside the Fortress, you can too discover the Fortress Museum, a possibility to be taught concerning the fortress in additional depth by inspecting a spread of artifacts, objects, weaponry, and historic reveals.
Other highlights inside the Fortress embody the Marionette Museum, State Rooms, and Golden Chamber. Dedicate at the very least just a few hours to exploring these intimately, as all of them signify an essential piece of town in Salzburg’s jigsaw puzzle of historical past.
Fortress Hohensalzburg, also called Festung Hohensalzburg, is accessible by a brief funicular journey or a steep hike. As a mountain climbing fanatic, I hiked all of it the best way to the highest and would completely suggest it in case you’re on the lookout for a scenic exercise.
4. Salzburg Cathedral
Known as Salzburger Dom by German audio system, the Salzburg Cathedral is an imposing baroque cathedral centrally positioned within the metropolis’s Old Town. Because of its grand façade, wealthy historical past, and spiritual significance, it’s simply one of many metropolis’s most recognizable landmarks.
Salzburg Cathedral was initially constructed within the eighth century as a church devoted to Saint Virgil of Salzburg, an Irish churchman well-known for his spiritual works throughout that point. The cathedral’s twin towers attain a peak of roughly 81 meters (265 ft) and will be seen as a distinguished function of Salzburg’s skyline.
While the cathedral’s exterior is actually memorable, guests can be lacking out in the event that they didn’t enter inside. Featuring hovering ceilings and ornate decorations, the inside of Salzburg Cathedral is really awe-inspiring (Especially because the roof did endure harm in World War II).
The Salzburg Cathedral additionally has robust ties to music historical past, as certainly one of its attendees, Mozart, was baptized right here in 1756. In reality, a few of his early works had been additionally carried out in entrance of the church congregation, making it one of many first venues the place Mozart’s items had been ever unveiled. Salzburg Cathedral continues to function an lively place of music and worship at present, as common lots and spiritual ceremonies regularly happen right here.
5. St Peter’s Abbey
Another spiritual constructing price visiting, St. Peter’s Abbey (also called Stift St. Peter) differs from Salzburg Cathedral in that it’s an historic monastery that’s one of many oldest monastic institutions within the German-speaking world.
Although it seems to be comparatively unassuming from the surface, St. Peter’s Abbey is stuffed with hidden treasures inside. A stroll by the abbey’s advanced would take you to spectacular constructions such because the Abbey Church, Cemetery, Library, and Long Gallery.
I discovered St. Peter’s Cemetery and Catacombs to be particularly attention-grabbing to go to. Not solely was it a peaceable place to typically expertise and stroll by, however it’s right here you could additionally discover the ultimate resting place for a few of Salzburg’s most distinguished people, corresponding to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s sister, Nannerl Mozart.
St. Peter’s Library can also be nicely price a go to, because it homes a few of Salzburg’s most essential texts, corresponding to medieval manuscripts, important spiritual books, and different historic paperwork which have lasted a number of centuries. At varied factors of the yr, St. Peter’s Abbey additionally hosts inventive performances and different classical live shows.
6. DomQuartier Salzburg (UNESCO World Heritage website)
If you’re keen on museums, then the DomQuartier Salzburg ought to be one of many prime issues in your record of issues to do in Salzburg. A sequence of interconnected buildings (together with the Salzburg Cathedral), DomQuartier can also be the place you’ll discover the Residenz, the previous residence of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg.
As you tour the residences, pay attention to the intricate stucco work, stunning tapestries, and immaculate furnishings. It’s right here that guests also can discover an intensive assortment of European work from the Middle Ages proper up to the 19th century. For instance, within the Residenz Gallery, artwork lovers will get the chance to look at artworks by names corresponding to Rembrandt, Rubens, and Veronese, in addition to native Salzburg artists.
In the Long Gallery, you’ll find a way to discover a assortment of helpful sculptures and artifacts. A brief stroll by the terrace will lead you to panoramic views of Salzburg’s Old Town. While the elevation right here isn’t fairly as excessive as you’ll discover in Fortress Hohensalzburg, this view affords a special perspective of Salzburg that you simply’ll be hard-pressed to discover anyplace else within the metropolis.
DomQuartier was one of the crucial intensive museums I explored in all of Austria, and I discovered that it was extraordinarily well-equipped to inform guests of all languages by its use of audio guides, informative panels with completely different translations, and useful, educated employees.
7. Franziskanerkirche
Salzburg has no scarcity of intricate spiritual buildings, and Francizkanerkirche, or the ‘Franciscan Church’, is yet one more one. Built within the 8th century, Franciscan Church shows a mix of architectural types, together with Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque—a function that it shares in widespread with different Salzburg icons corresponding to St. Peter’s Abbey. This makes the church fairly distinctive, as guests shall be ready to discover the slight variations by inspecting options such because the stone carvings, hovering ceilings, swish arches, stained glass home windows, and altars.
The Franciscan Church was based by St. Maxiumus and his fellow monks and, over time, has gone by main restoration and transformation, significantly between the 14th and 15th centuries.
The Franciscan Monastery (Franziskanerkloster) will be discovered proper subsequent to the church. As an lively monastery, the Franziskanerkloster at present homes friars and continues to be a spot of contemplation and research. A crypt additionally lies beneath the church, the place the stays of noble households and distinguished people from Salzburg’s historical past are stored.
8. Mozart’s Birthplace
Known as ‘Mozarts Geburtshaus’ by locals, Mozart’s Birthplace is one other must-do in Salzburg merely due to its historic significance. The birthplace of one of many world’s best composers and contributors to the historical past of music, this quaint yellow townhouse has since been remodeled into an informative museum the place guests can discover Mozart’s private belongings, musical devices, household portraits, and different important gadgets throughout all three flooring.
Mozart’s household townhouse was constructed within the 12th century however was bought by Mozart’s father, Leopold, a lot later, in 1747. You can discover the home on Geitreidegasse, a preferred road that’s additionally on this record of 21 Things to do in Salzburg,
At Mozart’s Birthplace, you possibly can even discover the very room the place Mozart was born on January 27, 1756. The museum is well-aided by audio guides, informative shows, and different shows that provide an excellent larger perception into Mozart’s life and musical growth. I spent about an hour right here studying about Mozart’s life—undoubtedly a worthwhile cease.
Visitors are additionally ready to purchase a memento of their go to within the small present store, positioned inside the townhouse. At the present store, you’ll find a way to discover a variety of Mozart-related gadgets, corresponding to music recordings, books, and replicas of Mozart’s musical devices.
9. Linzergasse
As certainly one of Salzburg’s most important pedestrian-only streets, Linzergasse is known for being a procuring haven amongst Salzburg’s historic buildings and picturesque structure. You’ll discover among the metropolis’s greatest boutiques, artwork galleries, and specialty shops as you stroll down this well-known road.
Along Linzergasse, guests will even have the selection to dine at a few of Salzburg’s most well-known cafés and eating places. These embody Café-Konditorei Fürst, Café Bazar, and Triangel Restaurant. In specific, Café Konditorei Fürst is known for inventing the unique ‘Mozartkugel’, a chocolate-covered confection consisting of pistachio, marzipan, and nougat. It’s alternatively well-known because the ‘Mozart-Bonbon’, and is, yep, you guessed it, devoted to Mozart and his contributions to Salzburg.
It’s essential to observe that Linzergasse is greater than only a road for procuring. It additionally served as a traditionally essential buying and selling route between Salzburg and town of Linz. In reality, an exploration of Linzergasse’s environment may lead you to encounter different Salzburg landmarks corresponding to St Sebastian’s Church and Mozart’s Residence (Mozart-Wohnhaus).
10. Old City Hall
Salzburg’s Old City Hall (‘Altes Rathaus’ in German) is an icon of Salzburg that you simply undoubtedly can’t miss when exploring the Old Town. Constructed within the 14th century, the Old City Hall is adorned with stunning ornate home windows and complicated decorations, in addition to a distinguished clock tower. It’s additionally one other nice instance of each the Gothic and Renaissance architectural types, a standard theme amongst essential buildings within the metropolis.
The Old City Hall is historically the place where essential enterprise conferences and different administrative issues are dealt with, and it at present serves as the seat of the Salzburg City Council. It’s right here that essential historic assemblies, public bulletins, proclamations, dignitary visits, and historic celebrations have taken place (and proceed to happen).
One of the Old City Hall’s highlights is the Carillon, a musical instrument consisting of a sequence of bells performed by a keyboard mechanism. The Carillion is widespread with guests due to its assortment of huge bronze bells, every of a special measurement and tuned to a particular pitch.