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Mention the city of Salzburg, in Austria, and it’s amazing how
many people burst into their favourite song from “The Sound of
Music”. Despite this, Salzburg has another claim to musical fame
– it was the birthplace of Mozart. With much of its central city
relatively untouched for centuries, Salzburg also offers the
chance to see magnificent architecture in abundance.
Mozart, however, is very much an element of Salzburg, and can’t
be forgotten very easily. There is Mozartplatz, with a big
statue of guess who! The music academy is called Mozarteum, and
of course there’s the house he was born and raised in (Mozart
Geburtshaus) and another house where he lived between 1773 and
1780. This residence, known as the Mozart-Wohnhaus, contains a
fascinating museum, well worth visiting.
Best of all, though, is the confection called Mozartkugeln, or
Mozart balls, a chocolate covered mix of nougat and marzipan,
which seems to decorate a large number of shop windows.
“The Sound of Music”, however, doesn’t receive the same
enthusiastic support, and in some ways is almost ignored in
Salzburg. Still, it is possible to visit the gardens of Schloss
Mirabell, where many scenes were shot. You can also wander the
cemetery of St Peter’s. This is where the Von Trapp family hid
from the Nazis in the movie. In real life it’s much harder to
imagine so many people hiding in such a small space!
The old part of the city centre provides many delights, so make
sure you take a stroll around this exquisite area. Start with
both the Residenzplatz and Kapitelplatz, which are on either
side of the magnificent Dom (Cathedral). Finish up in Domplatz
and you’ll be rewarded with a view of the Dom, the first
building outside of Italy that was built in the baroque style.
Its three bronze doors symbolise faith, hope and charity.
Even better, take the time to go inside and appreciate the
interior. There’s also a museum if you want to explore further.
There are many other beautiful churches nearby, including
Franziskanerkirche (Franciscan Church) and Kollegienkirche
(Collegiate Church). Alternatively, you can find a place to sit
and drink a coffee while you absorb the atmosphere.
No trip to Salzburg would be complete without a visit to Festung
Hohensalzburg – the Hohensalzburg Fortress. This old building
dominates the old part of Salzburg, sitting on a hill above the
city. You can be energetic and walk 15 minutes up the hill to
reach it, or you can catch the funicular. When you reach the
top, if you breath hasn’t already been taken away by the walk,
it will be when you see the stunning views in so many
directions. You can pay to visit the interior of the fortress,
which includes a fascinating look at everything from state rooms
to torture chambers.
Hopefully you will also get to hear some of the interesting
tales about the fortress, some true, some not, but all
entertaining. One archbishop had a particular fondness for
turnips, and there are supposedly 58 of them located in various
motifs around the castle. Another story tells of when the city
was under siege, and the whole population was hiding in the
fortress. With their food almost gone, they paraded their final
cow along the ramparts. They fooled the enemy into believing
they still had abundant provisions, and the enemy gave up and
went home!
If you have plans to visit Austria, then make sure you include
Salzburg on your itinerary. There is so much to enjoy and
admire, and something to suit everybody’s taste. Even if your
taste doesn’t run to Mozart or “The Sound of Music”!
About the author:
Travelling in Austria is a much loved past time for the author.
To find out more, check out http://www.travelaust
riainfozone.com or http://www.
travelaustriainfozone.com/salzburg/ for more information.
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