1:0 – History and Tradition
Salzburg's old city (a UNESCO world heritage site since 1996) draws up to 1.5 million visitors every year. Wonderfully preserved churches – especially Stiftskirche St. Peter samt Katakomben – provide an insight into the historical development of this town of sovereigns and bishops. The world-traveller Alexander von Humboldt counted Salzburg as one of the three most beautiful places on earth alongside Naples and Constantinople.
Its prime location on the important north-south trading route brought Salzburg fame and wealth during the time of the Romans. Salt, silver, gold and precious stones were mined in the Salzburg mountains and distributed throughout Europe. The Salzburg museums – especially the Keltenmuseum (Celtic museum) and the Salzbergwerk (salt mine) at Hallein bei Salzburg – provide an excellent overview of the 'salzreichen Zeiten' (age of salt).
2:0 – Science and Art
This wealth turned Salzburg into a hub for the fine arts and sciences. In 1622 Salzburg University was opened amidst much ceremony. In the centuries that followed scientists, men of culture, inventors and iconoclasts such as the doctor Paracelsus, the physicist Christian Doppler, the composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the winners of the alternative Nobel prize, the philosopher Leopold Kohr and the futurologist Robert Jungk, lived and worked in Salzburg. Paris-Lodron university, the Mozarteum and the Fachhochschulzentrum (Polytechnical centre) accept students from all over the world.
Every year in August the famous call of “Jeeedermaaaan” resounds from the Salzburger Festung (Salzburg fortress), announcing the start of festivities for the famous festival of modern and classical music. However, it is not just haute culture that is on display in Salzburg: famous international artists perform at the contemporary dance festival, Tanzfestival Szene Salzburg.
And of course everybody knows the story of the Trapp family, who soared to global fame in the musical The Sound of Music. Even Salzburg's resident experts can't decide which is more famous, Mozart's ”Kleine Nachtmusik” or the song “Edelweiss” from the musical.
3:0 to the greens and whites
Both visitors and locals show a common appreciation of the unsullied environment, crystal clear lakes and majestic mountains. The city of Salzburg is the “greenest town” in Europe (there are over 22,000 trees in the city area). In the summer walkers, climbers and mountain-bikers come to enjoy the thrilling alpine environment. Salzburg's ski resorts such as Gastein and Kaprun contain more than 1,700 kilometres of piste for winter sports enthusiasts.
4:0 for top sporting achievements
Salzburg town and region hosts many international sporting events:
2007 - the Junior Ski World Championships, Junior Snowboard World Championships, Gymwheel World Championship
2006 – Cycle World Championship, Paper Airplane World Championship
2005 – Bobsleigh World Championship
2002 – Mountain bike World Championship
There have been Olympic successes, notably for the sailors Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher (2000, 2004), and for the surfer Christoph Sieber who won a gold medal in 2004.
Salzburg's winter sportsmen and women habitually earn victories and titles at Nordic and alpine skiing competitions. The most well-known amongst them are: Annemarie Moser-Pröll, Petra Kronberger, Hermann Maier, Felix Gottwald, Alexandra Meissnitzer, Thomas Stangassinger and Fritz Strobl.
The local Red Bull Corporation has established itself as a patron of all kinds of sporting activities. Salzburg's world record holding base jumper and extreme parachutist, Felix Baumgartner, is one such beneficiary. Red Bull is also a generous supporter of the Formula-1 and ice hockey teams and the sponsor of the Austrian Bundesliga champions.
5:0 for hospitality
The people of Salzburg are world-famous for their hospitality, which they go about in their own characteristic way. You might find them rather grumpily making fun of the weather for hours on end – especially when it comes to the “Salzburger Schnürlregen” (Salzburg sheet rain).
On the other hand the people of Salzburg are a sociable lot and enjoy meeting friends and acquaintances in their spare time. They love being hosts and their guests can't help but return the feeling. Since it is also a well-known fact that the way to someone's heart is through their stomach, the people of Salzburg also like to treat their guests to Mozart Kugeln and Salzburger Nockerl.
You can find out more about the various tourist information points at:
Salzburg Land Tourismus and Salzburg Information where you can also book hotels and bed & breakfasts.
