With the coming of the modern times in our world, we often limit the idea of greatness in architecture within the thoughts of tall and futuristic skyscrapers, buildings that seem to defy gravity and yet are still able to stand, and architectural feats such as having large stadiums that embrace modern day designs. Many great cities in the world are evolving to embrace these modern styles and some have even completely abandoned the old era appearance of buildings. Somehow, with the coming of these futuristic looking buildings, we seem to have lost something in the process; a sense of our past or perhaps even a sense of our history and heritage. Luckily, there are still countries that remain loyal to their country’s heritage and history all the while embracing the coming of the modern age. One of those countries happens to be the beautiful and elegant Salzburg, Austria.
A brief overview of Salzburg before we get to the many activities families can enjoy, Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria and is well known for the baroque architecture of its altstadt which literally means old town. Majority of German towns of old towns are often car-free and speaks a lot about the history of the country since most old towns have been ravaged by war and have been restored over time. The great thing about the area is that getting to and from the Salzburg airport is quite easy with the use of Blacklane which is an airport shuttle service you can book ahead of time, ensuring a hassle-free and stress-free trip.
Altstadt
The old town of Salzburg is heaven to architectural fans and even just families visiting the area. With many of the city’s most popular attractions within the vicinity such as Salzburg Museum and Mozarts Geburtshaus (Mozart’s Birthplace), it is best to allocate at least one whole day since there are many shops, markets, and sights for the whole family to come and see. A family can spend the whole day wandering the different areas such as Alter Markt which is a marketplace that dates back all the way to the 13th century – definitely a great chance to appreciate the history of the country.
Mirabellgarten (Mirabell Gardens)
On the east side of Salzach River, the paradise known as Mirabellgarten or Mirabell Gardens is a site to see and families and visitors often greeted with the beautiful winding paths which you can explore, unique sculptures and baroque style structures such as the Angel Staircase. There are plenty of other notable sites in the area such as Dwarf Garden, Pegasus. The best time to visit the area is during the summer when the flowers in the garden bloom.
Dom zu Salzburg (Salzburg Cathedral)
Dom zu Salzburg or Salzburg Cathedral is a seventeenth-century cathedral mainly dedicated to Saint Vergilius and Saint Rupert, which is also the patron saint of the Austrian state of Salzburg. The Church itself is a sight to see and has been built, burned and re-built numerous times throughout the years. The cathedral is also a major part in Mozart’s life since it’s the same place he got baptized as well as the location where some of his pieces were composed.
Salzburg is a wonderful place to visit with family and friends at any time of the year since many of its famous locations are open all throughout. Some of course are better during different times such as Mirabellgarten during the summer. Also a world heritage site, Salzburg shows that a country can still embrace its roots through maintaining the Baroque style of architecture all the while accepting the coming of the modern age.
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