'At that there was a peal of laughter behind me, clear and chilling from a world beyond unknown to men, a world engendered of pain, purged and divine humour. I turned around, frozen through and blessed with this laughter, and along came Mozart...' Herman Hesse

Salzburg was at one time or another the home of Mozart, Freud, Haydn, Herbert von Karajan, Paracelsus and many other world-famous people, whose names adorn plaques on almost every building in the Old Town.

The city of Salzburg - and especially its historic centre – is one of the loveliest places in Europe. It won international acclaim in 1997 when it was designated a world heritage site by UNESCO.

The Old City of Salzburg, divided in two by the Salzach river, is set in beautiful surroundings. It is flanked by the Monchsberg, crowned by a Fortress visible for miles, and by the mighty Capuchin Mountain on the right bank of the river. The panorama of Salzburg is truly stunning the first time you see it, and its magic never fades: nobody with eyes and a soul can fail to be enchanted by the majesty of the Alps, the ancient fortress, and the river.

In the countless narrow streets of the historic centre you will find medieval, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance buildings, as well as the elegant classical burghers' houses dating from the period of the monarchy. Hardly any age failed to leave its architectural imprint on Salzburg.

There is no lack of imposing buildings. Among the most striking examples are the Cathedral, the Hohensalzburg Fortress, the Residenz, St. Peter's Monastery with its impressive cemetery, the Franciscan Church and Collegiate Church, the Large and Small Festival Halls and the Summer Riding School in the Festival District. On the right bank of the Salzach one should not miss Mirabell Palace with the romantic Mirabell Gardens (one of the city's most popular picture postcard scenes) or St. Sebastian's Church with its charming cemetery.