Salzburg Austria June 27

Today was a walking tour through Salzburg.  We don't believe that there is a better way to see the city.  There are so many twist and turns were cars aren't allowed that walking is the best alternative.  The Old Town area where we are staying has narrow streets, lots of interior courtyards and shopping and eating galore!!  Salzburg is a medieval city that dates back to the 1500s.

Salzburg has about 150,000 residents so it is not a large city.  It is considered one of the world's most beautiful cities---known as the "Florence of the North."  A golden city of the High Baroque, Salzburg spans the Salzach River in the foothills of the Alps and the Bavarian (German) border.  Even in pre-historic times (1000 BC), Salzburg was known for the salt trade.  Later, it was a Celtic settlement and then a Roman one.  Christianity came early to Salzburg.  By 750 AD a Benedictine Abbey and the Nonnberg Nunnery were here and soon Salzburg was an important seat of power in the Holy Roman Empire.  Wolf-Dietrick von Kaitenau, a Medici Prince and Archbishop created this "Rome of the Alps."  At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Salzburg became part of Austria.  The birth and burial place of Mozart and the actual setting of the real life events and filming of "The Sound of Music".  Salzburg has, for centuries, been a center of musical excellence.  It is hard to believe today, but much of the city was bombed in WWII and destroyed---luckily, the Old Town survivied.



Here is the view from our hotel.  For my friend Madelyn Botta who has been to Salzburg, we are staying at the Goldener Hirsch.




Salzburg is a walled city.  Some of the wall is made by Mother Nature like the one above and some man made.  This building is built inside of the hill.  The shaft you see running up the hill is for water to flow into the city.



Salzburg is divided by the river into two section:  Old Town and New Town



This is Hohensalzburg Fortress which was run by the Catholic Church until 1815.  We went on a private guided tour so were able to see many rooms not available to the public.  In a few pictures I will talk about the tour.





The is the home of Mozart.  He lived on the third floor.  As you can see, the buildings in Old Town are very close together.



This is New Town

This is the Fortress

Again, the Fortress

The dungons were many non-believers were tortured

The tour took us up a 1000 stairs (at least that is what it felt like) to the very top of the Fortress.  What a view!!

They played the bells for us and we watched the mechanism and it played

Guard stations found on many of the corners of the Fortress

Don't want you to think that we didn't have a some fun time too.  Never thought that might "Knight in Shining Armour" would wear glasses!

Ancient horn

Best way to explore Salzburg

This is the Mirabelli Palace where "The Sound of Music" was filmed (in part)

Bicycle riding this afternoon and a great dinner tonight.

Jack and Nancy