Salzburg

We took the train from Munich to Salzburg arriving a couple of days before the beginning of our Alpine tour.  Salzburg was very touristy and the streets were already packed in late June.  Mozart's birthhouse was interesting and there were a lot of historical information on my favourite composer.  But by the time we got to the Mozart residence it was information overload and I was frankly bored, not to mention that it was quite commercialized and one room was pure Hollywood. That, together with the stifling heat and lack of air conditioning, made for a short visit.

The Hohensalzburg fortress at the top of the hill offered magnificent panoramic views of the city - it was a short funicular ride up to the top.  From there we did a leisurely hike along the top of the cliff to Monschberg, enjoying panoramic views along the way. We were told by various sources that there was a lift that will take us down to the city -  but none of the travel books told us that the lift was actually inside the Museum of Modern Art at the top of the cliff!  We stumbled upon it when we thought we would go inside the Museum to ask!

Old town Salzburg, with its river and bridges, could be pretty after all the tour groups were gone. Even the key sights like the Mirabelli Gardens, impossible during the day, quieted down by late afternoon and a pleasure to visit in the early evening. The golden hour saw the fortress enveloped in the light of the setting sun - something else we stumbled upon in addition to the open air movie night in the Kapitelplatz behind the Cathedral. We also enjoyed a concert in the Mirabelli Palace - an energetic rendition of the Four Seasons by the group Orchester 1756 playing on period instruments. 

Salzburg from the Hohensalzburg fortress

Love the arches inside castle!

The hike to Monschberg from the castle gave us views of the other side of the castle and panoramic views along the way

View of the castle from Monschberg

Castle seen from the gates of Mirabelli Gardens

 

Mirabelli Gardens

 

Concert inside the Mirabelli Palace

Residenzplatz in front of the Cathedral

Kids having fun with the street fountains

Entrance stairway to Mozart's birth house

This ancient water wheel is part of a 13th century canal system that supplied Salzburg with water from the Alps foothills, and still does. It once ground grain into flour to make bread at the bakery beside it. 

One of several bridges linking the old town and the new

Street musician beside the bridge

Carved door at the cathedral

Beautiful entrance to St. Peter's Church from the 12th century

The stunning Franciscan Church, one of the more unusual structures we came across on this trip, was built in the early 13th century. It reminded me of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Kapitelplatz with its free movie night against the spectacular backdrop of the castle at sunset

Salzburg - after sunset