On the northern edge of the Alps, surrounded by landscapes straight out of "The Sound of Music", lies the city of Salzburg. As the capital of the province with the same name, Salzburg owes its international fame to the incomparable splendor of its cityscape, the beauty of the surrounding landscape and the fact that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born here in the year 1756. The city’s unique silhouette and the harmonious combination of culture and nature have fascinated visitors for centuries, resulting in UNESCO’s designation of Salzburg’s Old City as a “World Cultural Heritage Site.”
The city is situated conveniently at the Salzach River and other ancient European trade routes. The strategic location and the profitable salt-mines helped the former Roman settlement flourish into a mighty archbishopric and later into an architectural and cultural center, the popularity of which ranks only second to that of Vienna.
The beauty of the city and the surrounding country has been captured in the acclaimed motion picture “The Sound of Music” and special tours take you to the movie’s different locations in Salzburg and Salzburg province.
When you arrive in Salzburg, there's always plenty to do. There are many excellent museums such as the newly-established Salzburg-Museum or the “Museum der Moderne”, Salzburg’s biggest museum of contemporary art. In addition, there are more than 4,000 cultural events offered year-round.
Salzburg’s sophisticated cultural program is spearheaded by the notable Salzburg Festival which takes place every summer amid the city’s splendid Baroque old town, and offers opera, concerts and drama on the highest artistic level. Other events include the Mozart Week in January and the Easter Festival, which always features internationally renowned orchestras and performers. Other highlights of the year include the Pentecost Festival focused on Baroque music and later in the year the Salzburg Culture Days featuring opera, ballet and concerts, the Jazz Festival and a kaleidoscope of events held during the Christmas season, when the famous Christkindlmarkt in Salzburg City draws crowds with a cozy atmosphere and the smell of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine. The world's most famous Christmas song "Silent Night, holy night" originates from the little village Oberndorf in the vicinity of Salzburg, where it was performed for the very first time in 1818.
Apart from these festivals, there are the performances by the Salzburg Marionette Theater featuring Mozart operas, the very popular Mozart Dinner Concerts at the Stiftskeller St. Peter and evenings of chamber music, which take place daily at Mirabell Palace, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Hellbrunn Palace and in the former Residence of the Salzburg Prince-Archbishops. Weeks of performances at the Landestheater, exhibitions and rock and pop concerts create new impulses for the city’s cultural life.
So whether you are interested in art or drawn by fantastic scenery, the unparalleled architectural beauty and rich culture of Salzburg make the city at the Salzach a must see place for every traveler.
Local Events
- January: Mozart Week
- Easter: Easter Festival: Easter Week through Easter Monday
- May/June: Salzburg Pentecost Festival (Baroque Music)
- July/August: Salzburg Festival
- November/December: Advent Singing Performances and Christmas Market
For more details and dates of these and other events please visit www.salzburg.info.
More Information
Salzburg City Tourist Office
Auerspergstraße 6
A-5020 Salzburg, Austria
Phone: +43-662-889 87-0
Fax: +43-662-889 87-32
www.salzburg.info
tourist@salzburg.info
National Contacts
Austrian National Tourist Office
P. O. Box 1142
New York, NY 10108-1142
Phone: (212) 944 68 80
Fax: (212) 730 45 68
www.austria-tourism.at/us
info@oewnyc.com