Salzburg

Salzburg is a picturesque city on the Salzach River, not far from the border with Germany. Most buildings in the old town were constructed in the late-16th and early-17th centuries, by three bishop-princes. In the old town are numerous churches, plazas, courtyards and fountains, as well as countless medieval spires, domes, belfries and turrets that give Salzburg its distinctive skyline. Salzburg was the birthplace of the famous composer of classical pieces, Mozart. As a result numerous museums, houses and squares are named after the musician and numerous products, such as chocolate bars and liqueurs are marketed with his name.

Salzburg's old town is dominated by the Hohensalzburg Castle. The castle was built in the 11th century, on a rock outcrop, some 120 m above the city. The castle is very large and on its grounds are torture chambers, staterooms, a tower and two museums, as well as all possible self-sufficient accoutrements of a tiny settlement. The Museum of Natural History is on the eastern side of the old town. It has excellent exhibitions on Austria's flora and fauna and physics, as well as various deformed human embryos. If you are turned on by that, you should also visit the catacombs in the graveyard of the 9th-century St Peter's Abbey.

In Salzburg you can also visit Mozart's birthplace and his home, as well as the graves of his father and widow. In July and August, during the Summer International Festival, many of Mozart's compositions are performed in Salzburg.

The Baroque Hellbrunn Palace is 4 km south of the old town, in Salzburg's outskirts. It was built in the 17th century by bishop Marcus Sitticus and features numerous hidden fountains and water-powered figures, as the bishop was fascinated with soaking unsuspecting visitors. The tour guides of the palace posses the same kind of humor, so be careful.

There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Salzburg. The city is 250 km west of Wien (Vienna).