Having grown up on a staple diet of Do-Re-Mi and My Favorite Things, I was thrilled to visit Salzburg in Austria.
The imposing Hohensalzburg fortress rises above the city and the River Salzach winds its way through the birthplace of Mozart. Salzburg is closely associated with the popular movie, “The Sound of Music”. From the “Do Re Mi” song location to the convent where Maria lived, several scenes from the classic were filmed here.
We danced at the Mirabell Gardens, got outwitted at the Trick Fountains (Hellbrunn Palace), admired the views of the city from atop Hohensalzburg Fortress, wondered about Maria’s life at the Nonnberg Convent, and strolled along the beautiful Salzach riverside.
Oh yes, we did try the Mozart Balls :)! Don’t miss them when you are in the city.
Mirabell Gardens: Sing Do-Re-Mi
The Pegasus fountain with the Hohensalzburg fortress dominating the background is popular with visitors and photographers. Admire the beautiful flower beds, walk through the arcade in the garden, wander around the Hedge Maze, and try your hand at acting at the Hedge Theater.
The youngest member of our family was quite reluctant to leave the garden.
For more information, please view the website.
Hellbrunn Palace and the Trick Fountains: Get Tricked
Wholesome entertainment for “real” kids and “kids-at-heart” :).
An unplanned visit to the Hellbrunn Palace and initial hesitation about the ‘mandatory guided tour’ of the Trick Fountains quickly turned into a delightful afternoon of fun for all of us. The bus to Hellbrunn followed a scenic route to the outskirts of the city. The amazing views of the fortress and lush green fields as we headed to our destination set the tone for a wonderful visit.
The palace, the vast gardens and the Trick Fountains were commissioned by the Archbishop Markus Sittikus in the 17th century.
The grottos, water fountains, and “surprise” elements were a complete “fun” package for the family. The tour of the Trick Fountains was followed by a visit to the palace and then, a relaxed evening in the sprawling palace gardens. Junior _quacked _with (and at) the ducks while we cooled our heels on a bench. After a game of hide-and-seek among the trees, we ended our day with a close-up view of the pavilion (“I am 16, going on 17“) from “The Sound of Music”, now located in the gardens of Hellbrunn Palace.
For more information, please visit the website.
Hohensalzburg Castle (Fortress): Inside, Down and Around
The Hohensalzburg Castle (Fortress), atop the Festungsberg Hill, is almost always within sight from anywhere in Salzburg.
We rode the cable car up the hill, visited the medieval castle, and sighed over the views of the pretty city. Although Junior was not very enthusiastic about the interiors of the castle and a former prison, he was delighted to get his hands (and ears) on an audio guide. That kept him busy, while his parents caught up on history lessons.
The views from the fortress are indeed, remarkable.
For more information, please visit the website.
Nonnberg Convent (Stift Nonnberg): Maria’s Convent
On a sunny morning, we climbed the many stairs that brought us to the the old Benedectine monastery, the Nonnberg Convent. Popularly known as “Maria’s Convent” from the Sound of Music, it houses the church of Maria Himmelfahrt.
In the City: Explore
In the birthplace of Mozart, pose with the statue of the maestro, walk across the beautiful bridge over the Salzach, admire the views of the Salzburg fortress from the city, explore the city center and its charming streets (Goldgasse, Getreidgasse, …), visit the Dom, take a kaffee und kuchen (coffee and cake) break in one of the many cafes.
Thus, with many a happy tune in our hearts, we bid farewell to Salzburg and proceeded to our next destination, Innsbruck.