City break in Salzburg
 By Malcolm
Roger
Don’t ask citizens of Salzburg to show you the way to the Do-re-mi
Bridge. It’s the Mozart Bridge and Salzburgers don’t like
it being re-named, even though it neatly brings together the Austrian
city’s two musical experiences — The Sound of Music and Wolfgang
Amadeus.
The jewel of Teutonic tourism Salzburg’s unique combination of musical
heritage, scenic Alpine landscape and architectural wealth has led to
its reputation as one of the world’s greatest cities. And that’s
before you even consider its confectionery gift to the world, the chocolate
delicacy known, almost inevitably, as Mozartkügel.
Although Austria is one of the world’s remaining chocolate superpowers,
its culinary specialities don’t solely rely on the peculiar properties
of Theobroma cacao, better known as the cocoa bean. Along the city centre
streets you can be tempted by vanilla or apple-flavoured pretzels, bratwurst
sausages with sauerkraut or iced gingerbread hearts known as lebkuchen
all washed down with the local glühwein — a cocktail of mulled
wine, sugar, cinnamon and lemon — or a glass of sparkling Sekt.
The history of Salzburg can be summed up with the timeline: Celts, Romans,
Archbishops, Habsburgs. Like Ireland Austria is today a neutral country
part of the EU. The currency is the euro with prices generally cheaper
than Britain or Ireland — you’ll get a substantial lunch beginning
at ¤10, with wine from ¤15.
As Salzburg is the most visited city in Austria after Vienna, and one
of the most popular destinations in Europe, prices won’t be rock
bottom but generally speaking a visit here represents excellent bang for
your holiday buck.
It’s a very safe city with crime levels low. Salzburg’s 140,000
inhabitants are peaceable, friendly and always ready to wish you a “Gruss
Gott!”
Don’t miss:
Mozart: In actual fact, it would be very difficult to miss Mozart in Salzburg.
Throughout the city of his birth Wolfgang’s face is never far away
— it stares at you from cafés and bars, from chocolate boxes
and coffee cups. His statue dominates Mozartplatz where you should certainly
raise a glass of glühwein to the man who has been adjudged not only
the greatest musician ever but greater at anything there has ever been
in the history of humankind.
Two museums are dedicated to the composer. His birthplace, the Gerburtshaus,
is the oldest while the Mozart Residence on the other side of the River
Salzach, where his family lived for seven years, is the more comprehensive.
Throughout the year Mozart dinner concerts are held at various locations
in the city where you can sit back, sip a beautiful Austrian Riesling,
tuck into a Salzburger schnitzel and listen to the Marriage Of Figaro
or the like.
The other must-see is the Hohensalzburg fortress, which can be reached
on foot or via a funicular railway. The fortress towers offer stunning
views over the city and the Alps. The funicular stays open late in the
evenings when candlelit Mozart recitals are staged.
Festivals: Running from July 25 until the end of August the Salzburgerfest
is the city’s most important cultural gathering. The world’s
greatest musicians and artists head for northern Austria for this feast
of arts. There is an Easter festival as well, and in November the world-renowned
jazz festival takes place.
Public transport: Salzburg’s compact city centre runs up both sides
of the fast-flowing Salzach River in a tight warren of streets, alleyways
and squares. The public transport system is very well developed. You can
access all of the city’s sights and major areas by one of the environmentally-friendly
city buses.
The excellent value Salzburg Card is valid for use on the city’s
buses and funiculars for periods of 24, 48 or 72 hours.
The card also allows admission to most of the city’s attractions
(the castle, Mozart museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the beer museum
etc). The 24-hour card is 19, the 48-hour is 26, the 72-hour is 32.
Taxis, available throughout the city, are cheap and reliable.
The main airport is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart some four kilometres from
the city centre. A taxi costs approximately 10
The original Sound Of Music Tour (9.30am and 2pm) will bus you to key
locations in the film all the while singing “Cream coloured ponies
and crisp apple strudels... “ Catch the tour on the Mirabellplatz.
For further information on Salzburg visit www2.salzburg.info
|
