Salzburg, Austria, a city with a rich history and an enchanting atmosphere, was the destination for my mini-break. Accompanied by my parents, I embarked on a journey to explore this cultural haven known for its musical legacy and captivating landscapes. As the plane touched down at Salzburg airport, I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement and anticipation for the adventures that lay ahead.
After a smooth two-hour flight from London Gatwick, we landed in Salzburg. The beautiful alpine views from the aeroplane window were an early glimpse of this city’s beauty. The first task was to hop into an airport taxi for a 20-minute transfer to The Old Town, Salzburg.
Our first stop was the Salzburg Tourist Information Centre in the heart of Salzburg, where the iconic statue of Mozart stands tall, honouring the musical genius. Our guide, Christina Muhler, welcomed us and shared intriguing facts about Mozart’s life. It was fascinating to learn that although relatively short, 152cm, Mozart was immortalised with a towering monument of 7.5m featuring Mozart’s statue of 300cm in front of his former home. Christina’s guidance proved invaluable, especially for a short break, as it eliminated any time wasted deciding where to go and what to do.
Salzburg was abuzz with excitement as the renowned Salzburg Festival was about to commence. The streets were filled with tourists, and we could see the excitement on their faces as they explored the fountain and arches featured in the classic movie, “The Sound of Music.” While special tours focused on the film’s locations were available, my interest as a musician inclined me towards Mozart-related experiences.
Christina took us to Dom Zu Salzburg, the city’s grand cathedral where Mozart was baptised. Stepping inside, we were awe-struck by the cathedral’s stunning architecture and rich history. The bronze baptismal font, dating back to 1311, captured our attention with its intricate lion designs at the base from 1200, which were surprisingly adorned with human faces, a detail that amused me. Learning about Mozart’s early life and the challenges he faced as the youngest of seven children, with five siblings succumbing to infancy, made us reflect on the fragility of life in the 18th century. Christina informed us that the cathedral boasts five organs, making it a haven for organ music enthusiasts. Those lucky enough to visit at noon can enjoy daily organ concerts for €9.00, immersing themselves in the captivating melodies played on these impressive instruments. Dom Zu Salzburg was not only a place of worship but also a living testament to the city’s vibrant musical heritage, further enriching our Salzburg adventure.
After exploring the grandeur of Dom Zu Salzburg, Christina led us through the charming streets surrounding the cathedral. Expertly choosing a route, she guided us to the very spot where the iconic “Jedermann” performances take place during the Salzburg Festival. This play, written by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, has become a staple of the festival since its inception in 1920. “Jedermann” translates to “Everyman,” and the play is a morality drama that explores the themes of life, death, and redemption. The performances are held in the impressive courtyard of the Salzburg Cathedral, adding to the dramatic ambience and making it an unforgettable theatrical experience.
As we continued our walk, Christina shared insights into the café culture of Austria, an essential part of the country’s social fabric. She emphasised that visiting a café in Austria is not merely about grabbing a quick coffee-to-go but rather an opportunity to leisurely enjoy a coffee and a delicious cake while savouring the moment with a newspaper or a good book. This laid-back atmosphere is precisely what we experienced when passing by Café Tomaselli, a delightful café in the old marketplace with a history spanning over 160 years. Learning that Mozart himself used to frequent the café to enjoy almond milk added a touch of historical charm to the place.
Not far from Café Tomaselli, we discovered Café Fürst, renowned for its delectable Mozartkugel, a sweet treat with a marzipan and pistachio core wrapped in nougat and dipped in dark chocolate. It was fascinating to learn that these delightful confections were first created in 1890, almost a century after Mozart’s death. The credit for their invention goes to Paul Fürst, a master confectioner who dedicated the sweet treat to honour the musical genius of Mozart. As we indulged in the scrumptious Mozartkugel, Christina shared a quirky historical detail – the workers at the konditorei used to whistle while they worked. This peculiar practice wasn’t for entertainment or to coordinate working together; rather, it was to ensure that the workers didn’t sneak pieces of the treat home to their families by hiding them in their mouths while working.
To be continued in Part 2…
Thanks to Naturhotel Forsthofgut , Salzburg Tourist Office, Saalfelden Leogang Tourist Office
Enchanting! Truth be told, you had me at Mozart!! xoxo
I know, I was the same although the Sound of Music tour sounded delightful too, who doesn’t like Julie Andrew’s Maria.
Best wishes
Charlotte xoxo
Just reading about the Mozartkugel makes me want to get on a plane right now. 🍰
They are very rich in flavour. It is definitely on my bucket list to go back, I’d like to see an opera or two, visit the conservatoire, and go back to Leogang and the hotel Forsthofgut and have a go at mountain biking and some more spa treats 😊.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I’ve been to Salzburg two or three times, but the envy I felt when you mentioned it is only a two-hour plane ride for you. That would get me to Adelaide, which is not such a different culture to Sydney.
Getting a local guide is worth every cent – or doing a hop on-hop off bus where they are available – it makes orientation so much easier.
I agree about getting a local tour guide, it made the afternoon a lot more interesting and fact filled and wasted no time at all. I’d love another visit and to take in an opera or two or see the Everyman play.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a great time. While we rarely go to restaurants when we travel, we visits all the interesting looking cafés.
I love interesting cafe’s too, you should come to London and go for afternoon tea, I know a few great venues now it is one of my Mum’s favourite thing to do when she visits for her birthday. There were three restaurants in the hotel and one is priced in your room charge, absolutely fantastic.
Best wishes
Charlotte
One of these days we’ll make it to London. That sounds wonderful.
Mozartkugel!! I love them! Thank you for this wonderfu; post, Charlotte xx
Thank you Clare, did you ever get to see an opera in Salzburg? I think we need more festivals in the UK I don’t recall any near where I grew up.
Best wishes
Charlotte
No I never have been to the opera when I have been abroad. I would love
Ive been to a few operas in Italy (just magnificent) and France one for my 21st gift of my parents (divine). I had an audition at the Paris Opera House but sadly couldn’t go because there was a travel ban on Brits that New Year due to covid.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a shame and so disappointing for you. I think my first opera experience (except for playing in the orchestra for the Barts Hospital performance of The Gondoliers when I was 16) was seeing Britten’s Midsummer Night’s Dream when I was in the 6th form studying ‘A’ level music. I subsequently found a boyfriend who liked opera and he took me to Covent Garden a couple of times. It was affordable (just) in the 70’s; I saw La Traviata and Il Trovatore (he liked Verdi!). I go, when I can, to see opera in Norwich and at Snape Maltings though I haven’t been for about 5 years now. Xx
Sorry! I would love to go but have not had the opportunity so far. My elder daughter went with a friend to see one of Verdi’s operas, Aida I think, when they were in Verona. It was in the Roman arena and she said it was a fantastic experience. I am lucky living in Suffolk as we have a number of festivals during the year – not that I have been in recent years! Xx
Fantastic outdoor opera Aida in Verona, I loved it. I went to see my first opera for my 18th birthday at The Lowrie in Salford if I’m honest I didn’t enjoy it very much 😬. I also saw one of my professors from Scotland at the Opera house in Liverpool in a WNO production of Die Fledermaus. When I was in the Fire of Olympus it was great because my family could come to watch the Northern touring production in Stoke and at the Royal Northern College of Music.
As arts budgets have been cut these festival operas need all the audience they can attract to survive, there has been a marked reduction in paid work auditions.
Best wishes
Charlotte
This is so sad! All of the Arts are suffering really badly at present just when we need them to alleviate all our other woes! Xx
Nice and very interesting, thanks Charlotte ! The best for you and familly !!!
Merci beaucoup Pascal. We had a lovely break, my brothers are quite sad they couldn’t make it when we told them what a fabulous time we’d had.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Christina gave you an excellent tour well photographed and described in your prose.
Thank you Derrick I had to reply on my iPhone for all the photos and video, there was a chap walking around with the most fantastic camera I bet he got some wonderful shots it is so beautiful you really can’t fail. I’m teaching myself how to make the little video clips.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Glad to see you’re having a wonderful time. Don’t forget to enjoy the coffee and pastry!
I don’t really like coffee, I can just about manage a milky latte (I won’t tell you what George thinks of that!), so I don’t drink much, other than water, because drinks pile on the calories and I’d rather eat the calories in cakes and pastries 😂.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It sounds like a great start to the adventure. Can’t wait for the next installment 🙂
It seems odd that a flight from London to Salzburg takes about as long as a flight from Boston (near where I live) to Cleveland (where my parents live) – looking at the US, these to places are super close. I forget how small Europe really is, since there is so much there, and how large the US is (I can fly from Boston to London in less time than Boston to LA).
I’d love to visit both Boston and LA. It was my first visit to Austria, I’ve been to Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Romania, Greece, Brussels, Portugal, and a couple of others, you are right they are quite accessible for us from London. I was really pleased we got through the airport quickly because we didn’t want to waste a minute.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It sounds like you could eat your way through Salzburg. Enjoyed the tour and looking forward to more!
I’m usually not a very adventurous eater, I usually stick to what I know that I like but what I really liked about this holiday was exploring new tastes and foods even vegan, because there were five courses I was never worried I’d go hungry 😋.
It was lovely being in the mountains on holiday, a total relax.
Best wishes
Charlotte
What a wonderful walk through history. Thank you, Charlotte
You are most welcome Don, I had so much I wanted to share I had to cut the words down a bit and share more pictures. Thank you for reading.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I throughly enjoyed your experience, Charlotte. Looking forward to the next.
Thank you John, I’ve just put the next part of the adventure, I hope you enjoy it.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Yes I did.
I’ve been to Salzburg. You’ve seen a lot more of the city than I did. The high point of the visit was a performance at the Mozarteum. IIRR, it was in the small auditorium.
I would have loved to go to the university and heart a recital. It has certainly left me wanting more. Christina, our guide, explained there were so many music students wanting to go to the Mozarteum that there are waiting lists to get on a waiting list. I just wish there were more opportunities for musicians everywhere.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Love the history bits imparted in this post.
Salzburg truly is an historic place, with Mozart’s music legacy stamp indelibly upon it.
I’m thrilled you have shared this adventure, even if I am visiting backwards!
Resa ❦❦❦
Thank you for spending the time to catch up with me I appreciate it 😃. Xoxoxo 🧘🏼♀️💕