- This page is for the city of Salzburg. For the surrounding state of Salzburg, see: Salzburg (state)
Salzburg (population 145,000 in 2003) is a city in western Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg (population 520,000 in 2003). The geographic coordinates of Salzburg are 47.81 degrees north, 13.04 degrees east.
The city is regarded for its baroque architecture, extensive history, and as a gateway to the Alps.
Setting
The city is set on the banks of the Salzach river. It resides on the northern boundary of the Alps, with a dominant view of mountains to the south, contrasting with rolling plains to the north. The first in the Alpine chain is the Untersberg mountain, at 1972m in height, which is only a few kilometres from the centre of the city.
The inner city, or old town, is dominated by its baroque towers and many churches. The area is bound by two small mountains, the Monschsberg and Kapuzinerberg.
The city is approximately 150km east of Munich, and 300km west of Vienna.
History
Indications are the first settlements at Salzburg began with the Celts.
Around 700, the Roman Empire founded Juvavum on the site of modern-day Salzburg. Juvavum was an important town of the Roman province of Noricum. A Roman Catholic diocese was formed in the town, which later became an archdiocese responsible for Bavaria.
The economic wealth of the town during this time was based on salt-mining. The town's name derives from salz, the German word for salt. The town's river was a main artery for conveying salt that was mined in nearby mountains.
Successive archbishop princes moulded the town, with the most influential being Wolf Dietrich who was largely responsible for the shape of the city today. His influence saw the creation of the towering Salzburg cathedral, the Mirabell Garden, and other landmarks.
During World War II, the city was lucky not to sustain heavy damage from Allied bombing runs. The towns bridges and the dome of the cathedral were demolished, however much of the town's baroque architecture remained intact. As a result, it is one of the few remaining examples of a town of its style.
In 1965, the movie The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg and the state of Salzburg. The movie was based on the true story of Maria von Trapp, a Salzburg-based nun who took up with an aristocratic family and fled German occupation. Although the film is relatively unknown to Austrians, the town draws a large percentage of visitors who wish to relive the movie by visiting the filming locations.
Notable Citizens
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the influential composer, was born and raised in Salzburg. His house of birth, and his living house are popular attractions. His family is buried in a small church graveyard in the old town, and many monuments to him exist in the city.
- Christian Doppler, specialist in acoustic theory, was born in Salzburg. He is most renowned for discovery of his namesake, the Doppler effect.
- Joseph Mohr, the author of Silent Night with Franz Gruber, was born in Salzburg. As a priest in neighbouring Oberndorf, he performed the song for the first time in 1818.
- Noted writer Stefan Zweig resided in Salzburg for about 15 years until his departure in 1934.
- Salzburg is also the birthplace of Hans Makart, a 19th century Austrian painter-decorator and national celebrity. Makartplatz (Makart Square) is named in his honour.
Events
- The Salzburg Festival is a world-renowned music festival that attracts visitors during the months of July and August each year. A smaller Salzburg Easter Festival is held around Easter each year.
- Salzburg has been a candidate city for the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It was a favourite for winning with its 2010 bid, but lost out to Vancouver.
- The Europrix multimedia award takes place in Salzburg.
Tourist Attractions
Salzburg is considered a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists seemingly outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times.
- Skiing is a key attraction during Winter. Salzburg itself has no skiing facilities, but it acts as a gateway to many skiing areas to the south. During the Winter months it receives a huge quantity of charter flights from around Europe.
- The baroque old town, with highlights including the Salzburg Cathedral, and the Mirabell Garden.
- The Salzkammergut is an area of lakes in the Salzburg state, east of the city, that is well regarded.
- The Untersberg is next to the city, stradding the German-Austrian border and on a clear day provides panoramic views of the city and the alps.
- Eagle's Nest, Hitler's retreat, is in nearby Berchtesgaden, and a short distance away.
Transport
The city is serviced by comprehensive rail connections, with frequent trains east-west trains servicing Vienna, Munich, Innsbruck, and Zürich; including twice daily high-speed ICE services. The city also acts as a hub for south-bound trains through the alps as far as Italy.
The Salzburg Airport caters for scheduled flights to key cities such as Frankfurt, Vienna, London, Amsterdam and Zürich. The majority of flights available, however, are charter flights which at varying times provide connections to most European countries.
External links
- Stadt Salzburg - Official government website.
- Salzburger Nachrichten - the daily newspaper.
- http://www.salzburg-night.at/multilingual.asp?lan=en , restaurant guide and event calendar