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For centuries, lovely Salzburg has been noted for its
patronage of the arts, and is considered by many to be "Artistic
Capital of the World" as well as the "Golden City of the Baroque.
" Nestled in a tranquil valley near the northern foothills of the
Alps, Salzburg is less than 200 miles from Vienna, Austria's
capital, and only about 80 miles from Munich, Germany.
Three surrounding mountains-Mönchsberg, Kapuzinerberg, and
Rainberg-offer splendid views of the area, including the Salzach
river that winds through the city. Salzburg is also the capital of
the province of Salzburg and the seat of the provincial authorities.
International congresses are often held in its modern Congress
Center and a new Exhibition Center provides outstanding facilities
for trade fairs and exhibitions.
Salzburg's culinary delights are proverbial; you'll discover a
cornucopia of fine foods and beverages here. Its many restaurants
offer Austrian specialties, as well as intriguing Old World dishes
and international cuisine. Its irresistible coffee houses
(kaffeehauses) offer countless tempting variations on a cup of
joe-mokka (black), mélange (with frothed milk), and einspänner
(with whipped cream)-to name a few. Welcoming wine taverns and
beer cellars abound. Fast food and snack shops are often open
around the clock.
This is Mozart's town, and music is enjoyed here 365 days a year.
Here's just a sampling of major music events: The Easter Festival,
the Whitsun Festival, the famed Salzburg Festival
(Salzburger Festspiele), and the Salzburg Autumn Jazz Festival.
All in all, a mind-boggling 4,000-plus musical and theatrical
events take place in this city each year! Immerse yourself in
Salzburg's wealth of orchestral and chamber music concerts,
recitals by eminent instrumentalists, and performances by vocal
artists, many of which are held in utterly exquisite settings.
But that's not all! There's an awesome array of museums and
galleries, castles and palaces, and monasteries and churches.
Explore the Salzburg Baroque Museum, the Rupertinum (for modern art),
the Mozart Center and Marionette Theater
(Mozarteum und Marionettentheater), St. Peter's Abbey (Stift St. Peter)
and catacombs, the imposing Hohensalzburg fortress
(Festung Hohensalzburg), and three palaces: the Mirabell Palace
(Schloss Mirabell-site of the gardens featured in The Sound of Music),
Hellbrun Castle (Schloss Hellbrun), and Residenzgalerie.
Take in Salzburg's scenic delights: the peaks of Mönchsberg,
Untersberg, and Gaisberg offer unsurpassed views. Other popular
excursions include the spectacular Krimml Waterfalls
(Krimmler Wasserfälle) and the village of Oberndorf, site of the
original performance of the Christmas carol "Silent Night"
("Stille Nacht").
Sports and recreation? Take your pick! Biking, squash, tennis, golf,
paragliding, parachuting, hot-air ballooning, hiking, and fishing
are all available.
And after dark? Great possibilities abound at discos, nightclubs,
and the glamorous Casino Salzburg Schloss Klessheim, located in a
baroque palace.
Salzburg has it all!
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