Salzburg
Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, is dominated by churches, castles, and palaces. Its picturesque old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Salzburg owes its fame throughout the world to the incomparable charm of its urban appearance, the scenic beauty of its surroundings and the coincidence that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born here in 1756.
Must-Sees in Salzburg
Festung Hohensalzburg, Salzburg's landmark, is Central Europe’s largest intact fortress and offers fantastic views of the city. Take time out to visit Mozart's Geburtshaus, the place where the genial composer was born on January 27, 1756. Another highlight is Mirabell Palace & Gardens with its splendid gardens built by the Baroque master builder Lukas von Hildebrandt. South of Salzburg’s old town is the popular Hellbrunn Castle with the world-famous 'Wasserspiele' containing many ingenious trick fountains and water-powered figures.
The Trapp family and The Sound of Music is inseparably linked with Salzburg. Follow Maria's footsteps and explore the many locations in the city of Salzburg and the surrounding countryside. The acclaimed Salzburger Festspiele, founded in 1920, is the high point in Salzburg’s culture calendar and includes concerts, opera, and theatre performances.
About Salzburg
Wealth and prosperity can be traced back to the centuries-long international trade in salt, the "white gold". The income from the salt trade enabled the prince-archbishops to build a city that was also called "Rome of the North" because of its Italian character, its numerous sacred buildings and its special atmosphere.
Top Highlights in Salzburg
Explore Salzburg's Lifestyle
Salzburg: City of Music
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was one of the greatest composers the world has ever known. Born in Salzburg in 1756, he wrote 24 operas, 17 masses and 50 symphonies. His genius continues to live on in his extraordinary compositions, like "The Magic Flute", "Don Giovanni" and "The Little Night Music".
"The Sound of Music" is a real life Cinderella story: Young novice Maria enters the house of the Trapp family as an in-house teacher and gets to marry the widowed father of seven. In 1965, the Trapp family comes to life on screen, starring Julie Andrews as Maria. With 5 Oscars, the movie is still one of the most successful productions of film history.
"Silent Night Holy Night" is probably THE most famous Christmas carol, and has been translated into more than 300 languages and dialects. It was first performed at the St. Nicholas' Church in Oberndorf near Salzburg in 1818, and has been listed on the UNESCO Intagible Cultural Heritage List.