Salzburg is located in the west of Austria, at the northern foothills of the Alps. The fast and clear Salzach River divides the city into Old and New. All the historical buildings of Salzburg have been perfectly preserved to this day, even the last war did not cause significant damage. The modern city and its surroundings are home to many high-tech businesses, and the rich historical heritage makes it interesting to visit.
Attractions of the Old Town
Around the year 700, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Peter was founded on the left bank of the Salzach River at the foot of Mönchsberg, from where the history of the city began. Now the monastery is located here. In the sheer wall of Mount Mönchsberg, to which the abbey adjoins, caves have been cut down, where hermits lived even before the foundation of the city. Following the abbey, the Nonnberg monastery was founded. It is the oldest active nunnery in all German-speaking countries.
The founder of Salzburg is Saint Rupert. His relics are buried in St. Peter's Basilica, richly decorated with paintings and stucco.
The center of the Old Town is the Residenzplatz square. It houses the Archbishop's Residence with luxurious interiors and a collection of medieval European paintings. An old clock is built into the tower of the New Residence and 35 bells are installed. The building itself houses the Sattler Museum, where the main exhibit is a panorama of the city, created in 1828.
The towers of the magnificent Cathedral in Salzburg rise to 79 meters. Organ music sounds here every day, concerts are often held, and in the southern part of the cathedral there is a museum of church art.
The old part of the city also houses the Franciscan Church, built in 1223, and the Kollegienkirche, a former university church, now a museum.
The Hohensalzburg Fortress, 120 meters high, is one of the oldest in Europe, which has survived in its entirety. It can be seen from anywhere in Salzburg, and you can reach it on foot or by finikuler.
Attractions of the New City
The development of the right bank of Salzburg began at the end of the 17th century. Here, too, there are a lot of interesting places for tourists to visit. So, the Mirabelgarten Park, laid out in 1690, is an example of European gardening art. The local Garden of Dwarfs pleases visitors with funny figurines, and the Baroque Museum is located in the building of the garden greenhouse.
Mirabell Palace has been rebuilt many times since its construction in 1606. Now it is the residence of the city burgomaster. Tourists gladly come to the main promenade of the New Town - Linzergasse. It is replete with cafes and shops, as well as the Church of St. Sebastian.
It is impossible to list all the points of the excursion program of Salzburg and its environs in one article. There are so many attractions in this Austrian city that about seven million tourists from all over the world come to see them every year.
