Salzburg Austria

Salzburg is famous for its magnificent Alpine scenery, its fortress and perfectly preserved baroque inner city, and its music festivals, as well as Sals for being Mozart's birthplace. Although it has only 200,000 inhabitants, this city is one of the world's leading cultural centers, especially for classical music. A short journey by train or car from Munich, Salzburg is a convenient stopover for anyone traveling from Germany to Vienna or Italy. Like most European cities, it's divided by a river, the Salzach, into left and right banks, connected by 10 bridges. The names of both the town and the river derive from the salt mines in the region, which brought Salzburg fame and fortune.

Mozart's birthplace on Getreidegasse is a magnet, attracting more than a million visitors annually. Every year in January, July, August, and on Easter, Wolfgang Amadeus's genius is celebrated in world renowned music festivals, with such conductors in the past as Leonard Bernstein, James Levine, and Herbert von Karajan and such singers as Fischer Dieskau, Pavarotti, and Baltsa. Salzburg's perfectly preserved center on the left bank, with its baroque structures, brooding fortress above the old city, 17th century streets, gaily flowered horse carts, and strolling shoppers (many dressed in colorful dirndls) creates an enthralling setting and mood, made even more magic by the scenery on every side. The city, filled with architectural wonders, is known as the Austrian Rome. Little wonder that many travelers count Salzburg as one of Europe's most beautiful and charming towns.

The most famous garden in town, now a public park, is the Mirabellgarten (Mirabell Garden), on the right bank of the river. Mirabell is the Italian word for "beautiful view" and, designed in the l7th century in baroque style with statues, marble putti, fountains, and ponds; it offers a good view of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. In the middle of the grounds is a palace built by Archbishop WolfDietrich for his mistress and now used for concerts and administrative offices. The park itself is a popular place for a stroll, and its benches are always full with Salzburg's office workers and older people catching a few rays. Adjoining the garden is the Kurpark, a tree lined area with a small hill called Rosenhogel, a good spot for taking snapshots, with an indoor swimming pool.

5 Star Hotels

Austria Trend Altstadt Radisson Sas
Bristol
Goldener Hirsch
Sheraton Salzburg
Crowne Plaza - The Pitter

Cheap Hotels

Neutor Hotel
Best Western Hotel Imlauer
Der Salzburger Hof Hotel
Castellani Parkhotel
Altstadthotel Weisse Taube
Stieglbraeu Hotel
Cd Hotel
Altstadthotel Kasererbraeu
Hotel Markus Sittikus
Mercure Salzburg City Hotel
Mercure Salzburg Kapuzinerberg Hotel
CD City Art Hotel Salzburg
Best Western Hotel Stieglbrau
Cordial Theater Hotel
Mozart Hotel
Kaiserhof Hotel
Atel Hotel Lasserhof
Schaffenrath Hotel