Top Attractions - Austria

Attractions - Vienna

Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is a city of astonishing beauty. The breathtaking sight of the Baroque spires of the old town, overlooked by the Festung Hohensalzburg, is quite unforgettable. It is no surprise that UNESCO has named the old town one of its World Cultural Heritage Sites. Salzburg is the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and his influence can be seen everywhere. There is the Mozartplatz with its Mozart statue, the Mozarteum music academy, and of course the Mozart Museum as well as the composer’s birthplace and residence. Mozart’s music dominates many, though not all, musical events. Devotees of a somewhat different musical genre also flock to Salzburg. The Hollywood musical, The Sound of Music was shot in the town and its environs in 1964. Apart from its gorgeous setting, Salzburg boasts outstanding architecture and a wealth of museums, galleries, theatres, cafés, restaurants and bars.

A visit to the 12th-century Festung Hohensalzburg is one of the highlights of any stay in Austria. Walk up the hill from the old town or take the funicular which provides a more comfortable way to the summit! There are organised tours of the fortress and its two small military museums, or make your own way around. Visit the terrace café and take in the awesome views of the city stretching below. Descend into the city and lose yourself in its atmospheric old streets and elegant churches, courtyards and gardens. Enjoy the local cuisine on offer in cafés and open-air markets.

Take a trip 4 km south of the city to the 17th-century Schloss Hellbrunn, built as a summer residence by Bishop Marcus Sitticus. Stroll around the pleasant gardens, visit the Hellbrunn Zoo and don’t miss the piece-de resistance, the famous trick fountains. Back in Salzburg after a hard day’s sightseeing, try a beer in the Augustiner Braustubl, the beer hall run by monks serving the beer they brew themselves. The hilltop fortress and spectacular ice caves of Werfen make an ideal day trip from Salzburg. The caves in the mountainside are the largest and most accessible in the world, with around 42 km of passages to explore and exquisite ice configurations.

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