Salzburg Holidays & Holidays in Salzburg - Austria
Like any self-respecting modern city, Salzburg offers fine attractions, cuisine and history which combine to give a persuasive and enjoyable experience to any intrigued visitors. However, unlike many modern city's, this excitement can be found in the company of awe-inspiring Alpine mountains!
Be sure to endure to the Festung Hohensalzburg castle to witness Salzburg from a 120 metre high vantage point, or, down to earth, view the animal, flora and fauna species at the Haus Der Natur. Elsewhere, historical importance can be gauged at the Mozart-Wohnhaus, the birthplace of the famous composer of the same name, before supping on a freshly brewed coffee at one of Salzburg's various petite yet perfectly formed traditional coffee shops.
Whatever your ambition for your holiday in Salzburg you are guaranteed a heartfelt welcome from the bubbly natives!
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Where Is Salzburg?
Salzburg is situated in Austria, located next to the Prealps and usually though of as being divided into 3 distinct areas. These are the east with its Continental Pannonian climate and low rainfall, while the central Alpine region has the characteristic features of the mountainous Alpine, and the remaining part of the country belongs to the transitional Central European climatic zone.
Salzburg Local History
The city of Salzburg literally means ‘fortress of Salt', which became its moniker on the strength of its salt mining industry, although it also has a prevailing gold mining history. Salzburg was original a Celtic settlement in the 8th century, becoming a Roman sanctuary later on.
Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raintenau instigated the city's baroque reconstruction in the 13 th century. The prince-archbishops expelled the Jewish residents of Salzburg in the late 15th century, and 300,000 Protestants migrated to Prussia after severe persecution in the early 1730's.
France and Bavaria controlled Salzburg between them during the Napoleonic Wars, and the annexation in 1814 to Austria under the Habsburgs sent the city into a recession.
The Republic of Austria was created on 12th November 1918. World War I saw a rise in fascism, and subsequently, when the Nazis invaded Salzburg on March 11 th 1938, they encountered little resistance. Austria was incorporated into the German Reich on 13th March 1938, which saw Austrians conscripted into the German army.
Austria was declared an independent nation on 27 April 1945, declaring its permanent neutrality on 15th May 1955 after 10 years of allied occupation, as well as joining the United Nations.
Salzburg Attractions & Sightseeing
Despite Nazi occupation, Festung Hohensalzburg castle was never captured by an enemy. This Castle is the highest point in Salzburg, and at a 120 metre elevation, offers a splendid view. Moreover, it features gruesome torture chambers (not for the easily spooked!), a lookout tower, two small museums and the impressive State Rooms.
As already mentioned, Salzburg was named so after its main trade, salt mining, and as such, a visit to the Bad Durrnberg Salt Mine will give you real insight into the proud history of the city. Here, you will be guided by a real miner through the maze like salt mine, and even experience a raft trip across a salt lake.
If Austria, and in particular, Salzburg's musical history is of interest to you, then you will be utterly enchanted by the Mozart-Wohnhaus – occupied by young Mozart and his family in the late 18 th Century. Let your imagination flow as you conjure up images of Mozart composing one of his many symphonies, serenades, concerts, and various other masterpieces. The house also contains genuine musical instruments, sheet music and other memorabilia used by the man himself.
For naturalists, the Haus Der Natur, or Nature House as we would know it, – is home to over 80 exhibition rooms of indulging and colourful flora, fauna and mineral displays. Their aquarium, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Central Europe, contains a vast collection of tropical fish, and the reptile house holds over 200 animals in 56 terrariums.
Other spectacles for your enjoyment include the Schloss Hellbrunn – a baroque palace which includes the Wasserspiele section in the grounds of the gardens, where many water features look to trick you into getting soaked – don't expect to come away dry! Or try the Mirabell Gardens – filled with dwarf statues and reflecting pools, a miniature museum of marble craftsmanship.
Salzburg Shopping
Shopping in Salzburg offers a range of goods from the sophisticated to the simple, allowing visitors of all budgets and intention to enjoy this unique shopping experience.
Salzburg' s busy, narrow lanes meander between picturesque outlets, which hold on to their past, offering traditional wares and costumes to customers. Visit on a Thursday, and you will be privileged to see the bustling farmers market in front of the Andra church. Keeping with the quaint feel, Getreidegasse shopping district is a web of passageways and squares, with establishments specialising in jewellery, traditional and contemporary clothing, antiques, leather and paper goods, and fragrances.
For those that love literature and poetry, the Eduard Hollrigl bookstore makes essential reading. Dating back to 1594 and the oldest bookstore in the country, you will find more than books on sale here; everything from maps, to postcards and even sheet music is available here.
Salzburg Restaurants
Salzburg is home to some of the worlds most sumptuous Restaurants, serving quintessential Viennese cuisine. One such eatery is the Café Sacher, which, despite its name, is a splendid restaurant, offering red velvet banquettes and sparkling chandeliers to mark its ambience. In the afternoon, it's a perfect choice for a leisurely afternoon pastry and coffee, but conversely yet expertly, full meals are also served, such as Wiener schnitzel, fried chicken, Zwiebelrostbraten (skirt steak topped with fried onions), and fish. To finish, why not treat yourself to the famous chocolate Sachertorte.
For a more rustic feel, visit the Pfefferschiff, which is set in a pretty, renovated rectory adjacent to a pink-and-cream chapel. This location pours country-chic from its walls, with its polished wooden floors, antique hutches, and tabletops laden with fine bone china and Paloma Picasso silverware. Sit down and enjoy a menu consisting of such delicacies as scampi tempura with asparagus and arugula or luxurious lobster crepes followed by a dessert of a sublime rhubarb tartelette with buttermilk ice cream.
Other recommended establishments include the Bazar, a classic daytime coffee house, Resch & Lieblich, serving essential Viennese cuisine and the Sternbrau, which mixes Austrian with Italian cookery to perfection.
Salzburg Cuisine
Salzburg regional speciality is the famous Salzburger Nockerl, which is a mound of sugary egg whites and raspberries, and Mozartkugeln, balls of chocolate covered in marzipan – you will find these piled high in many confectioners windows!
Why not try the traditional cuisine of Salzburgers – such meat based snacks as bacon, tender roast pork and brown-breaded Schnitzel, always served with a smile and the perfect light snack before a visit to a traditional coffee house.
Salzburg Bars & Clubs
Elegance and style is a virtue not forgotten in Salzburg! A visit to Vis-a-vis is a tribute to this; its clientele is slightly older and civilised, and features a zigzagging bar running through the centre of the bar to give it that contemporary feel.
Alternatively, if you would like to be serenaded by the soothing sound of Jazz after a tiring day around town, sit back and relax at Zwettler's Gastwirtschaft. Here, you can get comfortable in wood laden surroundings whilst live Jazz players trumpet away in the background.
Salzburg Weather
Salzburg's average temperature for the warmest month is approx. 18°C; with temperatures rising up to 25 ° c in the peak of summer. Temperatures are regularly below 0 ° c in the winter months, and rainfall and snowfall is present on average, half the days of the year, with mist around 1 day a week.
Cosmos Tourama Holidays in Salzburg & Austria
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