Salzburg Facts

Salzburg is located in the so-called Salzburger Becken (Salzburg Basin), on the northern border of the Alps, surrounded by the Kapuzinerberg (636m), the Mönchsberg (508m) and the Gaisberg (737m). Although there are official districts, not all of them are of interest when giving an overview of Salzburg. There are a few districts that have a distinct feel to them, but it is the city's historic Altstadt (Old Town) that deserves the most attention.

Old City

In 1997, Salzburg's Altstadt (Old Town) was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the category of cultural monuments worth preserving for future generations. This should speak for itself, and the Altstadt should be on every visitor's...

...is the beautiful capital of Land Salzburg. This former site of the Roman town of Juvavum is set against a pristine mountain backdrop. The city and the river were named after the early residents who earned their living in the region's salt mines.

This "heart of the heart of Europe" is the city of Mozart, who was born here in 1756. The composer's association with the city continues to draw loads of tourist revenue and tourists, who come to visit this favorite son's birthplace, the Geburtshaus, an old burgher's house.

The Old Town lies on the left bank of the river, where a monastery and bishopric were founded in A.D. 700. From that simple start, Salzburg grew in power and prestige, becoming...