The beautiful city of Salzburg is well-known for being a musical hub as it’s the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. To this day his work is still being celebrated through festivals, concerts and guided tours of his home. Salzburg is also known for being a Baroque metropolis filled with many architectural spectacles, broken up by various modern pieces.
If you wish to visit Salzburg for its rich music and art history, these are the spots to keep an eye out for.
Mozart’s Birthplace and Residence
One of the most visited museums in Austria is Hagenauer Haus, on the busy shopping street of Getreidegasse. Mozart was born and lived in the apartment on the third floor for several years.
Hour-long tours are conducted daily for Mozart fans who wish to see his childhood home. The furniture found inside this reconstructed apartment dates back to the 18th century and memorabilia such as letters and certificates, sit in prime place. Many portraits grace the walls, giving you an insight into the 1700s.
In 1773 Mozart and his family moved into what we know today as Mozart Residence, located in the magnificent Makartplatz Square. The Dance Master’s House was an eight-bedroom apartment that now holds a fascinating museum.It had to be reconstructed as two-thirds were destroyed in an air raid, however,the original plans were stuck to, giving it an authentic feel.
If you wish to listen to the works of Mozart, concerts take place in the Marble Hall at Mirabell Palace.
The Sound of Music Tour
Salzburg is also the birthplace of The Sound of Music as the Von Trapp family once lived here and the classic musical was filmed in and around the streets of the city centre. The Sound of Music was based on Maria Kutschera, a governess for the Von Trapp family who ended up marrying the widowed father and turning their family into a family choir.
Fans of the film flood to Salzburg to see the various filming spots including Mirabell Gardens, where Julie Andrews and the children can be seen singing and dancing around the Pegasus Fountain. Another popular sight is the Felsenreitschule, the stage in which Maria and the children performed on,before fleeing to Switzerland.
If you wish to visit all of the top spots in one go, book a bicycle tour and cycle around Austria's most bicycle-friendly city. You’ll travel down the routes seen in the film and see the best bits.
Museum of Modern Art
After learning about Salzburg’s musical history, why not delve into its rich modern art scene? Visit the Museum of Modern Art to see many 20th and 21st-century art pieces, from all over the world. Situated 60 metres up on Mönchsberg means you’ll also have a beautiful view of the historic old town below.
Over an area of 2,300 square meters, you’ll discover international contemporary pieces, including several from Salzburg artists. Even if you’ve already visited, its recommended to go again as the exhibitions do rotate regularly.
The exhibitions adapt to the season too, so if you’re planning on visiting Salzburg this winter, expect to see many Christmas and winter-themed pieces, such as A Mind of Winter by Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz. A permanent collection is also displayed in the Rupertinum building, along with the Austrian Photography Gallery that’s overflowing with unique prints.
The Walk of Modern Art
If you haven’t fulfilled your art fix even after visiting the Modern Art Museum, try the Walk of Modern Art that features a collection of sculptures and hidden treasures, scattered around the Old City, some in unexpected places.
Initiated by the Salzburg Foundation as part of the Salzburg Art Project, this walk consists of 14 different art pieces all created between 2002 and 2011, by artists from the likes of Italy, America and Germany. One of the sculptures in this collection is Sphaera a nine-metre-high golden sphere, with a figure of a man on top. Created by Stephan Balkenhol who is known for designing art to evoke interpretations.
Another is an 11-metre-long stainless steel tube called Connection. This unique sculpture was designed by the Austrian artist, Manfred Wakolbinger to represent the unity of interior and exterior, much like the bustling life inside the city of Salzburg.
If you would like to follow the Von Trapp route or discover some of your favourite modern art pieces on a trip to Salzburg, the Fred.Holidays team can tailor-make it for you, so all us on 0800 988 3369 or contact us via our website.
