Salzburg on Saturday

H and I took off for a delightful day in Austria. I found this great tour online through Ryanair and was so excited I could hardly wait.  Austria of course borders Germany we have heard the scenery is stunning. I have always wanted to go; my Dad went when I was younger to Vienna and came back with pictures of beautiful cathedrals. The tour company Radius tours, is based in Munich and offers a wide variety of tours in Munich and in the surrounding area. This particular tour leaves from the main train station in Munich and takes you via train into Salzburg. 

 Now driving from Stuttgart I could have driven there in 3 hours.....

 But then H would have missed the train ride and we would have missed the fabulous tour. 

Salzburg is known for many things....... The movie the sound of music was filmed here

 ( although it is not a popular movie here), the alps, and it is the birth place of Mozart. 

I also learned that the famous scientist Christian Doppler was born here as well, just across the street from Mozart's family home. 

The cathedrals are breathtaking, the alps refreshing, and the rivers very cold. This is a well that dates to the Roman times the water comes from a spring in the mountain above the city, follows and aqua duct down to the city, then from this "well" down to the river outside the city's walls. It is still in use today as you can see, and of course H thought this was very cool to watch.

The old town area is a fortress that has been around since the time of the Roman's and the stone walls of the Roman fortress still comprise the city's walls.

 To walk in a place this "ancient" it so fascinating. I have touched stones that Roman's have touched, walked where they walked. I love all of the historical sights. 

The old town area was a self contained area that was the city, during times when cities needed walls. Salzburg was one of the few cities to survive the 30 year war in the 1600's because it was so well fortified. Salzburg was also a unique city in that for a period of time it was it's own country. Ruled by Archbishops, the city was often under threat and so a fortress was built for the government and when the city government was threatened it would retreat to this fortress above the city until it was safe to return again. 

Just outside of Salzburg there are salt mines ( the German word for salt is salz ) In one of the city's many courtyards there is a store that specializes in Salzburg salt.....

 H found this treasure. H was fasinated that they could make "bricks" out of salt, lamps, food items,and bath items. We spent a good 20 minutes exploring this and how the salt could be lit up with candles or lamps. H also held lively conversation with the shopkeepers, who thought it was wonderful H found salt so exciting. It was H who suggested the picture of the lit salt wall for this post.

I was truly excited to see Mozart's birth place. 

I love the music, and to stand where Mozart stood, lived and worked; I was in awe. The house is a lovely shade of yellow and just looks welcoming.

 H and I are both big fans of classical music and H could hardly believe that the house was still there because in the imortal words of H " Mozart is really old, they kept his house all this time." H took the picture of me in front of Mozart's house. Mozart was born below the seal and above the words...just in case you wondered.

The city is Mozart proud to, this is where the famous chocolate comes from and there is a particular chocolate that can only be made and sold here in the city. Other types of Mozart chocolate are sold all over Europe. It is excellent chocolate, and coming from a non chocolate eater that is worth something. I have to admit even I love these. Every store no matter what they sell has the Mozart chocolate inside. There is also liquor, and perfume for the truly dedicated Mozart fan.

Salzburg's old town is laid out in an almost circular fashion. You walk through the old gates of the wall and into narrow round shaped streets that have this comforting vibe. There are these alleyways that are named for the various trades found on either end like an alley way for iron works or jewlery, artwork, clothing etc. There is even one for eggs, we walked this on the tour and later I failed to find my way back to stop in the stores. 

The eggs are all hand crafted and they are as beautiful as they look and each one so unique. It felt like spring in this tiny alley.

the Rathaus ( courthouse) has been in continuos use since it was built back in the 700's can you imagine in the 1600's it was renovated and again in the 1990's. From the outside it just looks like a "simple" building who would have thought it held so many stories.

 I wish those walls could talk the history it has seen ! Many of the buildings have designs and moldings around the windows and on the building. 

I will be posting more of Salzburg in the coming days. The doors, iron work, ceilings, and cathedrals. 

H wanted to visit the inside of every cathedral, so we did. We walked the streets of Salzburg soaking in years of history all layered upon each other like a convoluted story one can never really tire of. 

I really enjoyed seeing what interested H and I have to say there were a few surprises, but then our children always surprise us it is one of the joys of watching them grow. 

No detail was missed and some sites were visited two and three times to really see them as H would say.  The flower Heather ( known as Erica here and what I am named after) was everywhere and I had to smile.

A day in Salzburg is a good day indeed right down to the tiniest of detail.