Salzburg capital of the Salzburger Land lies 425 m (1,394 ft) above sea level. Here on the northern edge of the Eastern Alps there was a junction of old European trade routes even in medieval times. Today the city with its population of 145,000 is easily accessible by rail, road and airHotel Weisse Taube

The capital of the Salzburger Land lies 425 m (1,394 ft) above sea level. Here on the northern edge of the Eastern Alps there was a junction of old European trade routes even in medieval times. Today the city with its population of 145,000 is easily accessible by rail, road and air.

Salzburg's location is exceptional. The fourth largest city in Austria, it lies in the centre of the basin-shaped valley of the Salzach, which cuts through the middle of Salzburg. A city of hilly contours, Salzburg was already thinking of itself in the Middle Ages as the "German Rome" with its seven hills.

Historically this view is certainly justified, and Salzburg's role in the history of Catholicism north of the Alps cannot be overestimated. The city was constantly the scene of important events. There were settlements on the safe hill-tops as long ago as the Neolithic Age, but once again it was the Romans who founded the first town here, the forerunner of modern Salzburg: the fortified settlement on the left bank of the Salzach which dates back to the 15th century BC was called Ivavo (Celtic, Latin Iuvavum) and received a town charter from emperor Claudius in 45 AD. In the early Middle Ages, when many towns fell into ruin, the settlement survived with a monastery on the fortified Nonnbergterrasse.

In 700 the monastery of St Peter was founded, and a nunnery on the Nonnberg, the oldest north of the Alps. In 739 Salzburg had a bishop, by 798 an archbishop and from then on a prince archbishop. It rapidly developed to become a centre of art and culture. In 1077 Archbishop Gebhard built the fortress of Hohensalzburg, one of the most important military complexes until 1789. In 1167 the town was destroyed by fire.

Salzburg's greatest age of the arts was in the 17th and 18th centuries, in the Baroque period. Venetian architects designed an "ideal city" with 5 large squares centered round the cathedral, the university was founded and several prince archbishops vied with one another to produce the greatest architectural achievements. It was in this period that the sights that still draw the crowds to Salzburg were built, such as the present early Baroque cathedral modelled on Il Gesù in Rome in 1614-28 and the Residenz, begun in 1595 and completed in 1619 under Paris Lodron. The Felsenreitschule is also famous, a former quarry which was rebuilt in 1683 as the archbishop's summer riding school and has been used since 1926 for open-air performances of operas and plays as part of the Salzburg Festival. A further feature of historic interest is the Neutor (also called the Sigmundstor), a 131-metre (430 ft) tunnel through the Mönchsberg to the suburb of Riedenburg built in 1764-68 under Archbishop Sigismund Graf Schrattenbach.

In the 18th century Salzburg became an important cultural metropolis under several of its feudal lords and a centre of the "Catholic Enlightenment" under Emperor Joseph II. In 1772 the last prince archbishop, the 41-year-old Hieronymus Graf Colloredo, was elected by the aristocratic cathedral chapter. In spite of significant reform policies, the age of the clerical principalities was over once the European revolutions began. In 1797 Emperor Franz II ended the aristocratic diocese of Salzburg in agreement with Napoleon in the Peace of Campoformio.
The annexation of Salzburg to Austria under the Habsburgs plunged the city into a recession. In the late 19th century the new town was built on the right bank of the river and the Elisabeth-Vorstadt. In the 2nd World War, however, over 40% of the buildings were destroyed or badly damaged.

The city's most famous son is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born here in 1756. Since then Salzburg has been the "Mozart city" and since the founding of the Salzburg Festival, the most important theatre event in the world, it has also become the "world's stage".

Every summer artists compete to take part and the public compete for the tickets to the performances. Only one event is constant, "Jedermann", Hugo von Hofmansthal's play that was written specially for this place and occasion. In the mornings, when there are no performances, you can visit the grave of Paracelsus, who lived and died in Salzburg, or make yourself comfortable in one of the famous Austrian coffee houses with a "Kapuziner (coffee with very little milk).
And if cultural events are not the only thing on your agenda, a performan
ce by Austria Salzburg might make a welcome change. For a long time an insignificant provincial club, this football association has been enjoying major national and international triumphs.

Not to be omitted on a stay in Salzburg is a visit to the Hotel-Restaurant "Zum Hirschen". This restaurant is famous for its cuisine and a "must" for guests from out of town (reserve early!).

The Salzburger Land, the area surrounding the city, also has many attractions, such as the little town of Anif or Hellbrunn, a bishop's summer residence near Salzburg. The oldest and only Baroque complex of this nature north of the Alps that has been preserved in its original condition, it consists, in addition to the building itself, of a park with fountains - many designed to tease visitors with unexpected showers - and the first open-air theatre north of the Alps in which in 1618 the first Italian opera performance in Central Europe took place.

HOTEL WEISSE TAUBE Kaigasse 9, A-5020 Salzburg, Austria Tel: +43 662 842404 / Fax: +43 662 841783 / e-mail
The capital of the Salzburger Land lies 425 m (1,394 ft) above sea level. Here on the northern edge of the Eastern Alps there was a junction of old European trade routes even in medieval times. Today the city with its population of 145,000 is easily accessible by rail, road and air. Salzburg's location is exceptional. The fourth largest city in Austria, it lies in the centre of the basin-shaped valley of the Salzach, which cuts through the middle of Salzburg. A city of hilly contours, Salzburg was already thinking of itself in the Middle Ages as the "German Rome" with its seven hills. Historically this view is certainly justified, and Salzburg's role in the history of Catholicism north of the Alps cannot be overestimated. The city was constantly the scene of important events. There were settlements on the safe hill-tops as long ago as the Neolithic Age, but once again it was the Romans who founded the first town here, the forerunner of modern Salzburg: the fortified settlement on the left bank of the Salzach which dates back to the 15th century BC was called Ivavo (Celtic, Latin Iuvavum) and received a town charter from emperor Claudius in 45 AD. In the early Middle Ages, when many towns fell into ruin, the settlement survived with a monastery on the fortified Nonnbergterrasse. In 700 the monastery of St Peter was founded, and a nunnery on the Nonnberg, the oldest north of the Alps. In 739 Salzburg had a bishop, by 798 an archbishop and from then on a prince archbishop. It rapidly developed to become a centre of art and culture. In 1077 Archbishop Gebhard built the fortress of Hohensalzburg, one of the most important military complexes until 1789. In 1167 the town was destroyed by fire. Salzburg's greatest age of the arts was in the 17th and 18th centuries, in the Baroque period. Venetian architects designed an "ideal city" with 5 large squares centered round the cathedral, the university was founded and several prince archbishops vied with one another to produce the greatest architectural achievements. It was in this period that the sights that still draw the crowds to Salzburg were built, such as the present early Baroque cathedral modelled on Il Gesù in Rome in 1614-28 and the Residenz, begun in 1595 and completed in 1619 under Paris Lodron. The Felsenreitschule is also famous, a former quarry which was rebuilt in 1683 as the archbishop's summer riding school and has been used since 1926 for open-air performances of operas and plays as part of the Salzburg Festival. A further feature of historic interest is the Neutor (also called the Sigmundstor), a 131-metre (430 ft) tunnel through the Mönchsberg to the suburb of Riedenburg built in 1764-68 under Archbishop Sigismund Graf Schrattenbach. In the 18th century Salzburg became an important cultural metropolis under several of its feudal lords and a centre of the "Catholic Enlightenment" under Emperor Joseph II. In 1772 the last prince archbishop, the 41-year-old Hieronymus Graf Colloredo, was elected by the aristocratic cathedral chapter. In spite of significant reform policies, the age of the clerical principalities was over once the European revolutions began. In 1797 Emperor Franz II ended the aristocratic diocese of Salzburg in agreement with Napoleon in the Peace of Campoformio. The annexation of Salzburg to Austria under the Habsburgs plunged the city into a recession. In the late 19th century the new town was built on the right bank of the river and the Elisabeth-Vorstadt. In the 2nd World War, however, over 40% of the buildings were destroyed or badly damaged. The city's most famous son is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who was born here in 1756. Since then Salzburg has been the "Mozart city" and since the founding of the Salzburg Festival, the most important theatre event in the world, it has also become the "world's stage". Every summer artists compete to take part and the public compete for the tickets to the performances. Only one event is constant, "Jedermann", Hugo von Hofmansthal's play that was written specially for this place and occasion. In the mornings, when there are no performances, you can visit the grave of Paracelsus, who lived and died in Salzburg, or make yourself comfortable in one of the famous Austrian coffee houses with a "Kapuziner (coffee with very little milk). And if cultural events are not the only thing on your agenda, a performan ce by Austria Salzburg might make a welcome change. For a long time an insignificant provincial club, this football association has been enjoying major national and international triumphs. Not to be omitted on a stay in Salzburg is a visit to the Hotel-Restaurant "Zum Hirschen". This restaurant is famous for its cuisine and a "must" for guests from out of town (reserve early!). The Salzburger Land, the area surrounding the city, also has many attractions, such as the little town of Anif or Hellbrunn, a bishop's summer residence near Salzburg. The oldest and only Baroque complex of this nature north of the Alps that has been preserved in its original condition, it consists, in addition to the building itself, of a park with fountains - many designed to tease visitors with unexpected showers - and the first open-air theatre north of the Alps in which in 1618 the first Italian opera performance in Central Europe took place.