Salzburg - the third most beautiful city in Europe
The Getreidegasse, Hohensalzburg Castle, the Cathedral or Mozart's Birthplace – according to the readers of the "Condé Nast Traveller", this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the top cities in Europe. More than 32,000 readers of the American travel magazine selected Salzburg, along with Venice and after Florence and Rome, as the third most beautiful city in Europe. As part of the "Readers' Choice Awards", this famous travel magazine gives out annual honours to the best destinations and locations for travellers. The most beautiful cities, cruise ships, airlines, hotels and holiday resorts are assessed. The Condé Nast Traveller is considered to be a "Travel Bible" among travellers.
"Travel and Leisure" Magazine (4.8 million readers, largely Platinum and Centurion Card members of American Express) provided another accolade:
As part of the "World's Best Awards 2008", the readers of this magazine judged Salzburg to be number 10 in the Top Ten European Cities. The "Goldener Hirsch" Hotel in Getreidegasse in Salzburg was placed 13th in the European Top 50, and was the first Austrian hotel in the Top 100 Best Hotels in the world.
Why Salzburg?
The name Salzburg comes from the word "Salz", meaning "salt", which has been mined in the region's salt mines for centuries. The city stretches across both banks of the River Salzach, at the foot of the Kapuzinerberg and Mönchsberg mountains. The historic centre can be found on the left bank, where the majority of its monuments are situated, designed in Italian Renaissance and Baroque style.
The beauty of its architecture has led to it being called the "Rome of the Alps". Salzburg, city of music, is also the birthplace of the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in whose honour the Salzburg Festival takes place in July and August each year. The cultural heritage of Salzburg, the beauty of the surrounding scenery, the reputation of the great tourist region (ski resorts, bathing and spa towns) make the federal state of Salzburg into a very attractive destination.
Hohensalzburg Castle
The Hohensalzburg Castle is a symbol of the city and the most visited monument in Salzburg. It rises up on the Mönchsberg mountain and offers a very nice view over the city. The castle can be reached on foot or by cable car. Archbishop Gebhard constructed the castle in the 11th century. Much later, his successors (Leonhard von Keutschach, Wolf Dietrich und Paris Lodron) expanded it. A visit to the castle allows you to marvel at the splendid late-Gothic style rooms, where you can see a wonderful tiled stove and the "Salzburger Stier" [Salzburg Bull] barrel organ. The castle museum is also worth a visit as it is home to documents regarding the history of the castle, and old weapons and armour.
Salzburg Cathedral
The first cathedral was completely destroyed by fire at the end of the 16th century and then was reconstructed in Baroque style in the 17th century by the Italian architect Santino Solari under the auspices of Archbishop Markus Sittikus and Paris Lodron. Its facade and 2 towers are made from bright marble taken from the Untersberg mountain. Behind the 3 large bronze entrance gates stand 4 statues, which represent both patron saints of Salzburg: St. Virgil und St. Rupert, and also both apostles St. Peter und St. Paul. Each figure is decorated with a symbol which enables identification: a cathedral, a salt barrel, a key and a sword. The catacombs house the tombs of the Archbishops. In front of the cathedral there is a lovely square which, during the Festival in the summer, is used as the backdrop for the play "Jedermann" ["Everyman"] by Hugo von Hofmannsthal.
Getreidegasse and Mozart's Birthplace
The Getreidegasse is the most famous street in Salzburg. Alongside numerous shops there are also pretty wrought-iron guild signs adorning this special street.
The world-famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756 in the house at number 9 Getreidegasse. Today, Mozart's Birthplace is a museum containing letters, portraits and musical instruments belonging to the composer.
Mozart's Residence
Mozart and his family lived for a short while in this house on Makartplatz square. Today the Mozart's Residence is home to a very popular interactive museum.
Residenzplatz
The Residenzplatz is the largest square in Salzburg. There is a beautiful Baroque fountain in the middle, created by the Italian sculptor Tommasi di Garona in the 17th century.
Around the square you can find the Cathedral, the Residenz Palace and the Glockenspiel with 35 bells which play a melody 3 times per day (at 07:00, 11:00 and 18:00).
Residenz Palace
This Renaissance style building was the residence of the Prince Archbishop. It contains more than 180 rooms. Its splendid rooms are currently used for official receptions. On the 3rd floor is the Residenz gallery, which is home to a famous collection of paintings with works by Rembrandt, Rubens, Makart and Waldmüller.
Festival Halls
They are to be found in the former Royal Mews of the Prince Archbishops and consist of two buildings:
Large Festival Hall
The Large Festival Hall was built by Clemens Holzmeister between 1956 and 1960. The architect had to excavate the Mönchsberg in order to realise this project. The auditorium in the Festival Hall can hold up to 250 spectators.
Little Festival Hall
The Little Festival Hall was also built by Clemens Holzmeister in 1926. The foyer is decorated with frescos painted by Anton Faistauer. In 2006 this building was renovated for the 250th anniversary of W.A. Mozart's birth and was renamed the "Haus für Mozart".
Mirabell Palace
Archbishop Wolf Dietrich had it built in 1606 for his beloved Salome Alt. The palace was remodelled by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt in the 18th century. After a fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the palace was reconstructed in an unassuming style. A magnificent marble staircase, decorated with baroque cherubs by Raphael Donner, leads to the Marble Hall, which is very popular for civil wedding ceremonies in Salzburg. The palace gardens were designed by Fischer von Erlach and are always worth a stroll.
Hellbrunn Palace
Hellbrunn Palace is only 15 minutes by car from the Hotel Altstadt Radisson Blu. It was the summer residence of Archbishop Markus Sittikus. Constructed by Santino Solari in the 17th century, the palace's water features contain fountains and also one or two surprises for its guests. Adjacent to the Hellbrunn Palace are the wonderful gardens and a zoological garden.
A Romantic Carriage Trip
A romantic trip through the alleyways of the old town is almost compulsory for visitors to Salzburg.
On these romantic trips, the most important sights can be explored with two horsepower, and totally free from stress: the coachmen tell a few anecdotes and willingly explain to you all the important information and facts about the city.
http://www.salzburg.info/sehenswertes_1361.htm
Salzburg Christmas Market
From the start of Advent until after Christmas a new famous and very popular tradition has come about: the Salzburg Christmas Market.
Casino Salzburg
The Casino Salzburg offers a pleasant setting in which to spend an exceptional evening. With its Baroque architecture and modern gaming, Klessheim Palace has a unique atmosphere. Daily from 15:00 you can relax by playing poker, roulette or blackjack. The casino can be reached by car (free parking) or by public transport. Themed evenings such as Ladies' Day or Birthday Thursday are also organised in Casino Salzburg.
Of course our team is on hand to provide you with additional tips on site, or on +43 (662) 848571-0.
The Salzkammergut and its Lakes
Lake Wolfgangsee
Lake Wolfgangsee lies mostly within the state of Salzburg and is part of the Salzkammergut. With an area of 12.84 square kilometres, and situated at 538 metres above sea level, the Wolfgangsee reaches a depth of up to 114 metres. The boat trip from St. Gilgen to St. Wolfgang (or vice versa) is very popular. It is suitable for people of all ages and is sure to leave a lasting impression.
For those who want to do some sporting activity on their holiday, Wolfgangsee offers the optimum conditions. Wolfgangsee and its environs offer surfing, sailing, hiking paths, beach volleyball, tennis and fishing.
This wonderful lake in the Salzkammergut region also has culture and history. Be it the Pilgrimage Church of St. Wolfgang, or the community of St. Gilgen, the towns around the lake have plenty of attractions on offer. For example, W.A. Mozart was closely connected with the community of St. Gilgen as his sister lived there and his mother was born there.
Lake Mattsee
Lake Mattsee is in Flachgau in the state of Salzburg and is a protected natural area, which means that motorboats are prohibited on the lake. Lake Mattsee has a length of 4.2. kilometres, a width of up to 1.5 kilometres, and a maximum depth of 42 metres. It also has a total surface area of 3.6 square kilometres.
Those interested in water sports can look forward to a wide range of activities, such as sailing, surfing and kite surfing. Cycling, tennis, fishing or mini golf are on offer for those who would rather play sport on dry land.
It is worth visiting Mattsee Castle on an excursion to the lake. It is partially bordered by the lake and is on a slight hill. The castle was used as a summer residence by the Archbishop of Salzburg until the 17th century. Today all kinds of events take place in Mattsee Castle.
Lake Fuschlsee
Lake Fuschlsee is surrounded by alpine uplands and is famous for the drinking water quality of its 2.7 square kilometres. In some places you can observe different species of fish down to a depth of 6 metres. This popular bathing lake offers a wide range of sports such as beach volleyball, climbing, windsurfing or basketball in its sandy bays. For nature lovers there are well-kept walking paths along the shores of the lake, and perfect quiet spots for fishing for brown trout, carp or bass.
The most famous spot on Lake Fuschlsee is the community of Fuschl am See with 1,400 inhabitants. This town has a few historical attractions. Fuschl Castle was constructed in the middle of the 15th century and was originally used for hunting purposes. Fuschl is also the headquarters of the Red Bull company.
Other lakes in the area
Lake Königssee
On the Austrian-German border in Berchtesgadener Land, the lake is famous for its emerald green waters and also the unique scenery around the lake. On a cruise across the 5 square kilometre, 8 km long and 190 m deep lake you have the unique opportunity of listening out for the famous Lake Königssee echo.
Lake Chiemsee
An excursion to Lake Chiemsee is an opportunity to visit one of the largest natural river deltas in Europe. Nature lovers find a unique biotope here, protected shores and many species of bird. From a sporting point of view there are cycle and walking paths along the shores, which can easily be combined with a boat trip.
Health
Watzmann Thermal Spa
The Watzmann Thermal Spa is in Berchtesgaden in Bavaria, just 20 minutes by car from Salzburg. One can enjoy 900 m² of water with wonderful views over the Watzmann mountain. The salt healing galleries, salt baths with waterfall and salt garden all have health benefits. The range of facilities offered by the Watzmann Thermal Spa is completed by the spacious sauna complex with infrared cabin, herbal sauna, various sauna cabins, steam room, solarium and sauna garden. There is also a range of health treatments and various massages on offer.
Rupertus Spa
Rupertus Spa is a 20 minute drive away in Bad Reichenhall, a town on the border with Austria. The spa has a surface area of 12,150 m² and you can relax either in the spacious sauna landscape or in the thermal spa area. The 1,000 m² of water contains various salt pools and outdoor pools with wonderful views over the surrounding mountains. There is also a generous selection of massages and health treatments on offer, which perfect your day in the Rupertus Spa.
Holmes Place Health Club
Holmes Place Health Club in Salzburg offers a combination of fitness and health on three floors. With 4,200 spacious square kilometres, Holmes Place offers the most space in the entire city for holistic wellbeing and training.
As well as the extensive fitness range, the modern health spa mirrors the entire philosophy of the Holmes Place Health Club and guarantees training and relaxation at peak international level.
The spa area with sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and relaxation zone is perfect for pure relaxation and recovery. A large sports pool, cleaned with skin-friendly ozone, offers sufficient space for swimmers and fans of aqua aerobics.
Vita Club Salzburg South
Just 4 kilometres from the Hotel Altstadt Radisson Blu, one of the four Vita Club fitness centres in Salzburg offers the opportunity for training with the most modern of strength and stamina equipment, and then for relaxation in the sauna area at the fitness studio. A wide variety of classes along with a solarium and a bar serving healthy drinks are available for you and your body 365 days per year.
Leisure Time
Sightseeing
As the name of our hotel suggests, it is located right in the heart of the city of Salzburg. All attractions such as the Hohensalzburg Castle, the Cathedral with museum, Mozart's Birthplace, the famous Getreidegasse and the Mirabell Palace with its wonderful palace gardens can all easily be reached on foot.
Excursions to the Salzkammergut and Berchtesgadener Land
Enjoy the wonderful scenery of the Salzkammergut and Berchtesgadener Land on excursions to the picturesque lakes nearby (Lakes Wolfgangsee, Mondsee, Mattsee, Fuschlsee etc.) or to Lake Königsee, nestled in the Berchtesgaden mountain landscape containing the mighty Watzmann and Jenner mountains, which are perfect for walking trips.
Golf
You can find a variety of golf courses in scenic locations in the area immediately around Salzburg:
- Golfclub Eugendorf in Eugendorf approx. 7 km from the hotel www.golfnet.at
- Gut Altentann Golf & Country Club in Henndorf on Lake Wallersee approx. 10 km from the hotel www.gutaltentann.com
- Golfclub Schloss Fuschl in Hof bei Salzburg approx. 12 km from the hotel www.golfclub-salzburg.at
Skiing & Walking
Thanks to the almost perfect infrastructure and the geographical location of Salzburg it is possible to reach various ski resorts in less than one hour by car.
Gaißau Hintersee Ski Resort
The nearest ski resort to the Hotel Altstadt, Gaißau-Hintersee, is in the Hallein area at 750 m (lower terminus). With around 40 kilometres of slopes (the upper terminus is at 1,567 m), 3 chairlifts and 6 drag lifts it is perfect for a day trip with friends or family.
20 of the 40 slopes are also suitable for beginners. There are 19 kilometres of red slopes for advanced skiers, and there is a one kilometre black slope for the highly skilled.
During Christmas and half-term holidays local ski schools offer classes on the slope designed especially for children, so that they too can learn the basics of this popular winter sport.
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm - Leogang
This ski resort in Zell am See has a wide range of activities for skiers, snowboarders and bobsleigh fans. 65 modern lift systems give skiers access to more than 200 kilometres of slopes of all levels of difficulty. The majority can be covered in snow by more than 450 snow machines, so the skiing continues even if the snow doesn't fall.
The Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm – Leogang also has an illuminated bobsleigh run which means it can be used until late at night. For those who would rather remain at ground level in the snow there are more than 10 kilometres of marked cross-country paths, and opportunities for curling and ice-skating.
In the summer there are 450 kilometres of marked walking paths instead of ski slopes. The views are excellent. For cyclists, Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang offers numerous mountain bike paths for beginners as well as for advanced cyclists.
Walking on Gaisberg Mountain
The circular route on the Gaisberg Mountain is particularly suited to families, but also simply for a long walk. The walk starts at a height of 1,000 metres above sea level at Zistelalm, which can easily be reached along the Gaisberg Road from the old town in Salzburg. The walking route is well signposted and is very easy due to having little or no gradient. For advanced walkers there are routes which lead 150 m further on up to the summit from where you can enjoy wonderful views.
Walkers will also feel like they are in paradise when walking near Lake Wolfgangsee. Well signposted walking routes and via ferrata through the unique landscape take nature lovers to wonderful viewpoints. The mythical past of St. Gilgen is explained on themed routes and educational trails. There are also cycle paths and mountain bike routes for advanced cyclists in this region.
Lake Mattsee offers everything from gentle hills to mountain walks and is therefore perfect for day trips into the countryside.
Of course our team is also willing to advise you in person on site or on +43 (662) 848571-0.
