The City of Salzburg UNIQUE BAROQUE JEWEL
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A LITTLE OVER 150,000 PEOPLE ACTUALLY LIVE IN SALZBURG. BECAUSE, WHEN IT COMES TO CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE, THIS FAMOUS CITY OF MOZART STANDS PROUD AND TALL RIGHT NEXT TO THE MAJOR METROPOLISES OF OUR WORLD.
WELCOME TO THE ROME OF THE NORTH
Salzburg owes its wealth of art and culture to its extraordinary history: For centuries, this city and the eponymous province were ruled by the so-called prince-archbishops, who became immensely rich through the salt trade and transformed their seat of government, from the 16th century on, into an artwork in its own right based on Italian models. If you stroll through the enchantingly beautiful Old City today, you understand immediately why Salzburg is also known as "the Rome of the North".
Visitors can experience this magnificence and the history behind it first-hand during a tour of the DomQuartier. The museum tour incorporates the sacred and secular wings of the former residence of the prince-archbishops, allowing you to explore the intriguing Baroque heart of Salzburg. The undisputed emblem of the city of Mozart is Hohensalzburg Fortress, enthroned high above the Baroque historic district and never conquered in the course of its 1,000-year history. Befitting its lofty status, the splendid princes' chambers, dating back to the Middle Ages, have been well preserved. The fantastic panoramic view over the city likewise captivates visitors. And since we are talking about the views: Salzburg is also fortunate to have real mountains in and around the city itself, inviting you to set out on longer and shorter walks at practically any time of day and in any season. Above the rooftops of Salzburg, you are not only greeted by an abundance of green nature, but also - and what else would you expect of Salzburg - culture of all kinds: including, as just one example, the Museum of Modern Art on the Mönchsberg.
FESTIVAL GLAMOR AND EXTRAORDINARY ARTISTRY
Famous creative geniuses such as W.A. Mozart, Stefan Zweig and Herbert von Karajan once lived and worked in Salzburg. Today, the Salzburg Festival insures that Salzburg City stands squarely at the center of the European art and cultural scene from mid-July until the end of August. In winter, meanwhile, the romantic Christmas Market surrounding the cathedral is extraordinarily popular. Of course, in a city such as this, the dining opportunities and choices of accommodation are second to none. That said, Salzburg has always retained a little of that "small town" feeling: Which means, you will always be able to leave your car safely parked and explore the highlights on both sides of the River Salzach on foot: from Palace Mirabell to the Festival District and, of course, the Getreidegasse.
EXPERIENCES JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY
Just a few kilometers outside the Salzburg city limits, two further highlights are just waiting to be discovered: on the one hand, we have Mannerist Hellbrunn pleasure palace with its famous trick fountains, which still function today as they did 400 years ago - driven purely by the power of water. Located at the foot of the Untersberg is Salzburg's biggest museum, the Open-Air Museum, where rural buildings spanning over 600 years of history have been brought in and faithfully rebuilt: from traditional farmhouses to a fully functional museum railway. An exciting adventure for the whole family!
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3 Tips for Your Stay in Salzburg City
- Use the guest card: The SalzburgCard is a perfect all-inclusive offer for your stay in the city of Mozart, also including free use of public transportation.
- Park&Ride: Day visitors can park at the edge of the city, then ride the shuttle bus into the center of town.
- Salzburg's surroundng communities feature really magical hotels and are the ideal homebase for excursions into the city as well as the mountains.
Salzburg City in Numbers
Hohensalzburg Fortress
The emblem of Salzburg, regally enthroned high above the heart of the city of Mozart. No wonder that this fortress draws guests from around the world. In its over 1,000-year history, this fortification of the prince-archbishops was never conquered or destroyed even once.
DomQuartier Salzburg
More than a museum. DomQuartier Salzburg is one of the most significant sightseeing attractions in Salzburg City. 1300 years of rule, art, music and architecture in Salzburg.
Schloss Hellbrunn & Trick Fountains
A refreshingly different twist on history. The Salzburg excursion destination for the whole family: Discover magical grottos, mischievous fountains that will play tricks on you, and even an actual unicorn!
Salzburg Open-Air Museum
Museum experience under open skies. Relax, escape the outside world for a while, enjoy time to yourselves! This is the perfect remedy for the restless world we live in: Located at the foot of the legendary Untersberg – in the middle of a nature sanctuary – lies the Salzburg Open-Air Museum on 50 hectares of grounds.