Traveling in Austria

Salzburg may mean “salt castle”, but for me it is one of the sweetest cities in the world and not because of the delicious Mozart candies, which are especially popular in the composer’s hometown, but because it was the first foreign city I visited with my boyfriend. For me, not Paris, but Salzburg is the city of love and that is why I will present you all the romantic places in this wonderful Austrian city.

We started our tour from the magnificent castle erected on a hill.  It is one of the largest and most fully preserved medieval fortresses in Europe. Hand in hand you can tour the dim stone corridors that lead to glamorous and heavily lit rooms with knightly armor or expensive furniture. The best place of the castle, however, remains the panoramic site, from where you can see the whole city, and in the distance the snowy Alps.  Hohensalzbug Castle (the high salt fortress) is an ideal starting place for walks of the city, and routes can be identified from above.

And if until a few minutes ago I thought that there was no more romantic place for kissing than the panoramic terrace of the castle, then I quickly changed my mind walking through  the beautiful gardens of the Mirabell Palace. To reach them we crossed a bridge the Salzach River, whose name meant the salt river and came from the many salt mines that were situated here. The name Mirabel perfectly suited this fabulously beautiful place (the word had Italian origin and comes from mirabile – delightful and Bella – nice). Flowers in all colors were arranged as in a picture, and the marble statues and fountains in them only reinforced their grandeur. Today the castle houses the mayor of Salzburg and the municipal administration, but the building was better known for the fact that it was here, the previous ballroom, that today was converted and is known as “the most beautiful wedding hall in the world”. It was hard for me to imagine that inside the palace there could be a hall more romantic than the lovely gardens outside.

For me, Salzburg enhances love as salt enhances meals, making it to taste better. After the beautiful Mirabell Castle we went back to the old part of the city, passing by the native house of Mozart. It is believed that the great composer at the age of 4 wrote his own melodies, which is not so surprising, considering that he was born and grew up in this wonderful and inspiring city.

Our next stop was at the beautiful 17th-century Baroque Cathedral Salzburger Dom. As beautiful on the outside, so majestic it was from the inside, with beautiful paintings on the walls and ceiling, engraved marble statues and a huge organ. Not far from the cathedral was the Benedink Abbey of St. Peter, which can be confused with a castle.

They say that love is blind and as if we were really blinded, not only by the wonderful feelings, but also by the fabulous salty city that welcomed us very hospitably. I remember the small souvenir shops where we exchanged gifts and the timid trembling kisses exchanged in the few castles. Many years later, our feelings and memories have not changed and I am grateful to Salzburg for the wonderful beginning and blessing.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT SALZBURG:

Location: Salzburg is located in western Austria on the banks of the Salzach River.
Area: 66.678  sq.km (the fourth largest Austrian city)
Population:  146 631 people
Official language:  German
Altitude: 424 m