We had the chance to visit Mozart‘s city in winter and I can say that Salzburg is a place that combines history and music in a pleasant way, being a spiritual and cultural symbol of this country.
If you have the opportunity to visit the homelands of the musical genius, the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, you will be fascinated from the first visit and you will love them, regardless of the season.
The salt mines near Salzburg are what gave the name to the city and the Salzkammergut region (salz=salt), while bringing prosperity to the territory traversed by the Salzach River.
Salzburg is a small city and the capital of the federal state of the same name, located on both banks of the Salzach River, near the northern foothills of the Alps and the border with Germany. The historic center of the city, with its rich mix of art and architecture, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996.
Salzburg – as the city of Mozart
Mozart was born in Salzburg in 1756. The house in Mozartplatz, where he lived, and his birthplace in Getreidegasse are today museums and remind us of the extraordinary childhood of the famous composer. After his years in Salzburg, Mozart eventually moved to Vienna, where he died at the young age of just 35.
The house where Mozart was born contains exhibits such as the violin with which Mozart gave concerts, the violin he played as a child, letters and portraits.
Hours: daily 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., July and August 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Price: €11/adult; €3.5/child 6-14 years; €4/adolescent 15-18 years old.
Rehearsals and social gatherings took place in the Mozart Residenz, but it is also the most important place where Mozart composed some of his most important masterpieces.
Other details about prices, combined tickets for both museums or the program can be found by accessing the official website.
Salzburger Dom and Domplatz – the site where the Salzburg Cathedral is located today has been a holy place used since the Celtic and Roman periods of the city. The cathedral is where Mozart was baptized, and the fountain used is still in existence near the entrance to the dome.
The Hohensalzburg Fortress, the city’s landmark and one of Salzburg‘s major tourist attractions, dating back to the Ottoman Empire, is the largest intact fortress in Central Europe.
Inside there are several museums, children’s play areas, restaurants and souvenir shops.
The panorama of the city seen from the hill where the fortress is located leaves you speechless. One can see the whole city, the great dome, the mountains and the river Salzach.
The fortress can be reached by funicular or on foot.
Mirabell Palace and Gardens. The beautiful building was built in 1606 by the Archbishop of Raitenau for his mistress, Salome Alt, and was originally called Altenau. After the 18th century reconstruction it was renamed Mirabell. The gardens were opened in 1730 and are recognized thanks to several sequences from the famous film The Sound of Music. Our only regret is that we saw the gardens in a winter, at the end of the day. We will definitely be back in the summer when they are full of color.
Getreidegasse is the busiest street in Salzburg and famous for its shops, courtyards and passages. It is the lively heart of the old town and the birthplace of Mozart, making it an irresistible destination for countless visitors from around the world. Most of the houses on either side of the shopping street were built between the 13th and 16th centuries and today house shops and restaurants on the ground floor.
The Residenz Palace was the official residence of the Prince Archbishops of Salzburg. Built in the Baroque style, the Residenz Palace is the most important tourist and historical attraction in Salzburg, along with Salzburger Dom and Hohensalzburg Castle.
Other tourist attractions: Zoo, Spielzeug Museum, Natural History Museum (Haus der Natur), Hangar 7 (an aviation museum or rather a private collection of cars, helicopters and planes owned by Red Bull. The main attraction is the suit with which Felix Baumgartner jumped from the Stratosphere).
If we have convinced you to visit this wonderful city, you can go to the official website where you will find all the necessary information, such as prices, organized tours, interactive maps, museum tickets or you can buy the Salzburg Card.
If you liked our article, read about the last destinations we visited by clicking here.
(Salzburg – December 2018)
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