Salzburg: Austrian capital of music and culture.
River Salzach and Festung Hohensalzburg
Salzburg means "salt castle", referring to its massive fortress and the white gold from the mountains in the South. Salzburg is the capital of a federal province of Austria with the same name, at the northern edge of the Alps. Its approximately 150,000 residents make it the fourth biggest Austrian city. Beyond that, Salzburg is Austria′s most beautiful spot and one of the best old towns in the world.
The Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse a Medieval lane in the old town of Salzburg.
Traces of human settlements in Salzburg have been found in the area, dating to the Neolithic Age. The first settlements in Salzburg continuous with the present were apparently by the Celts around the 5th century BC.
Around 15 BC the separate Celtic settlements were merged into one city by the Roman Empire. At this time, the city was called "Juvavum" and was awarded the status of a Roman municipium in 45 AD. Juvavum developed into an important town of the Roman province of Noricum. After the collapse of the Norican frontier, Juvavum declined so sharply that by the late 7th century it nearly became a ruin.
Salzburg: The Festung Hohensalzburg and Chapter Fountain.
The Life of Saint Rupert credits the 8th-century saint with the city's rebirth. When Theodo of Bavaria asked Rupert to become bishop c. 700, Rupert reconnoitered the river for the site of his basilica. Rupert chose Juvavum, ordained priests, and annexed the manor Piding. Rupert named the city "Salzburg". He traveled to evangelise among pagans.
Old town in Salzburg. Modern Pieta
The Festung Hohensalzburg, the city's fortress, was built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard, who made it his residence.It was greatly expanded during the following centuries.
The coat of arms of Salzburg
The statue of Mozart in Salzburg
River Salzach and Festung Hohensalzburg
Salzburg means "salt castle", referring to its massive fortress and the white gold from the mountains in the South. Salzburg is the capital of a federal province of Austria with the same name, at the northern edge of the Alps. Its approximately 150,000 residents make it the fourth biggest Austrian city. Beyond that, Salzburg is Austria′s most beautiful spot and one of the best old towns in the world.
The Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse a Medieval lane in the old town of Salzburg.
Traces of human settlements in Salzburg have been found in the area, dating to the Neolithic Age. The first settlements in Salzburg continuous with the present were apparently by the Celts around the 5th century BC.
Around 15 BC the separate Celtic settlements were merged into one city by the Roman Empire. At this time, the city was called "Juvavum" and was awarded the status of a Roman municipium in 45 AD. Juvavum developed into an important town of the Roman province of Noricum. After the collapse of the Norican frontier, Juvavum declined so sharply that by the late 7th century it nearly became a ruin.
Salzburg: The Festung Hohensalzburg and Chapter Fountain.
The Life of Saint Rupert credits the 8th-century saint with the city's rebirth. When Theodo of Bavaria asked Rupert to become bishop c. 700, Rupert reconnoitered the river for the site of his basilica. Rupert chose Juvavum, ordained priests, and annexed the manor Piding. Rupert named the city "Salzburg". He traveled to evangelise among pagans.
Old town in Salzburg. Modern Pieta
The Festung Hohensalzburg, the city's fortress, was built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard, who made it his residence.It was greatly expanded during the following centuries.
The coat of arms of Salzburg
Salzburg was capital of an independent principality until the Napoleonic Wars; it became part of Habsburg Austria at the Congress of Vienna in 1815. Today, Salzburg is the capital of a province (Bundesland) of the same name. Until 1816 Salzburg was incorporated into Austria. Of Austria’s present-day lands, Salzburg is the only one to have been ruled as an independent state by a prince-archbishop and it is the only one of the many spiritual principalities of the Holy Roman Empire still to exist as an independent land.
Salzburg is located in a very pretty part of Austria, where the Alps meet the flatter hill region to their north, with lots of lakes within easy reach in the Salzkammergut and the Salzburger Seenland. The city itself is situated by the river Salzach and at an altitude of approximately 430 metres; it is shaped by several hills.
The exceptionally well-preserved Medieval and Baroque old town (city centre) is testimony to the wealth of the former city-state. This was primarily due to salt and gold mining in the south of Salzburg. The heyday of the principality was in the 17th century, when Salzburg was among the richest areas in Europe.
"Man on a golden ball" A sculpture by Stephan Balkenhol seen in Kapitelplatz in Salzburg. Art project "Sphaera".
The city′s magnificent Baroque town centre is rated as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. A classic music festival, the city′s most famous son Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the heart-warming musical "The Sound of Music" created the area′s fame and popularity with music enthusiasts all over the world.
After World War I the Austrian Empire splits. Salzburg Festival is founded in 1920. Salzburg becomes a fashionable place to be in the summer and attracts wealthy people and intellectuals from Vienna and Germany, mostly through the young Salzburg Festival. However, the First Republic is politically and economically instable and in 1938 all of Austria becomes part of Nazi Germany. In the same year, book burnings are held on public square Residenzplatz, persecutions of Jews and other Nazi-victims start. In November, a synagogue is destroyed.
During World War II, a total of 15 air strikes destroy 46 percent of the city′s buildings especially around the station. Up to the present day, duds and bombshells are occasionally found in Salzburg. Watch out for some of Salzburg′s not-so-nice neighbourhoods around the station area: they are some of the scars of WWII.
Salzburg. The horse drawn carriage tour around the old town
After the war Salzburg is occupied by US troops. Great endeavours of the population as well as support trough the Marshall European Recovery Program lead to a rapid recovery of the City after the war. In the 1960ies, the University of Salzburg is re-established as a full academic institution.
After the war Salzburg is occupied by US troops. Great endeavours of the population as well as support trough the Marshall European Recovery Program lead to a rapid recovery of the City after the war. In the 1960ies, the University of Salzburg is re-established as a full academic institution.
Salzburg old town
Salzburg is now again among Austria′s richest provinces. This is mainly due to tourism (skiing in the south, some hiking, all-year-round sightseeing tourism in the city, plus the Salzburg Festival). Other major industries are metals and associated high-tech businesses; beer (Stiegl is the biggest brewery of Salzburg), fashion (traditional clothing) and luxury items. There are four universities in Salzburg city and one in nearby Seekirchen.
About Salzburg on this blog:
All photos by Elisabeth Fazel.
Sources text: www.salzburg.gv.at, www.visit-salzburg.net, www.salzburg.info, Wikipedia.