Salzburg · Europe

Overview

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Art lovers call Salzburg the Golden City of High Baroque; historians refer to it as the Florence of the North, or the German Rome; and music lovers know it as the Festival City -- birthplace of Mozart and home of the world-famous Salzburger Festspiele (Salzburg Festival).

The setting could not be more perfect. Salzburg lies on both banks of the Salzach River, at the point where it is pinched between two mountains, the Kapuzinerberg and the Mönchsberg. In broader view are many beautiful Alpine peaks. Man's contribution is a trove of buildings worthy of such surroundings: Beginning with Prince-Archbishop Wolf-Dietrich von Raitenau, who began his regime in the late 16th century, Salzburg's rulers pursued construction on a grand scale. Astonishingly, they all seem to have shared the same artistic bent, with the result that Salzburg's many fine buildings blend into a harmonious whole -- a cohesive flowering of Baroque architecture.

While Salzburg is a visual pageant of Baroque motifs, music is the element that shapes the life of the city. It is heard everywhere: in churches, castles, palaces, and, of course, concert halls. Since 1920, the Salzburg Festival, which draws a crowd to the city from mid-July until the end of August, has honored Mozart with performances of his works by the world's greatest musicians. Whether performed in the festival halls or outdoors with the opulent architecture as background, Mozart's music serves as the heartbeat of Salzburg.

Outside of the festival season, visitors can explore other fascinating attractions, including the locations featured in The Sound of Music, filmed here in 1964. It's hard to take in the sights withoutimagining Maria and the von Trapp children trilling "Do-Re-Mi." Whether it's the melodies of Rodgers and Hammerstein or of Mozart filling your head, the city of Salzburg is a symphony of both sounds and sights.