A Day in Salzburg, Austria
On May 26, 2023, I spent a day exploring Salzburg, Austria during my study abroad trip with Middle Tennessee State University. Salzburg is known as the birthplace of Mozart, as well as the filming location of The Sound of Music. We got to see Red Bull Hangar-7, the Catacombs of St. Peter’s Abbey, Stiegl-Keller restaurant, Fortress Hohensalzburg, the Mirabell Gardens, Residence Fountain in Residentzplatz Square, and walk along the Salzach River.
Piper Super Cub with snow skis at Red Bull Hangar-7 in Salzburg, Austria
Our first stop was Red Bull Hangar-7 at Salzburg Airport. The airfoil-shaped hangar housed planes, helicopters, Formula One race cars, and racing motorcycles. We got to see the lounge area and the Michelin-starred Restaurant Ikarus. The warm atmosphere and ambient music made the entire place feel surreal—like somewhere from the future.
View from the Catacombs of St. Peter’s Abbey. This is the oldest cemetery in Salzburg.
Next, we caught a bus and traveled to the center of Salzburg. On our way to Stiegl-Keller for lunch, we stopped in at the Catacombs of St. Peter’s Abbey. As we carefully tread along the silent stone steps, I wondered what these catacombs had been like in the twelfth century when they were hewn from the Mönchsberg mountain.
The famous Salzburger Nockerl at Stiegl-Keller
After schnitzel and Salzburger Nockerl at Stiegl-Keller, we walked to the summit of the Festungsberg mountain to see Fortress Hohensalzburg. The fortress was built in 1077, making it the biggest fully-preserved castle in Central Europe, according to salzburg.info. The walk to the top was a challenge, however!
Ascending the steep path to Fortress Hohensalzburg
The panoramic views at the top of the fortress were absolutely breathtaking. Below us to the south lay the Nonntal district (where the locals reside), and beyond it the majestic Alps seemed to touch the sky. I could have stayed atop Festungsberg all day to drink in the wind and the sky and the view, but there was more to be seen in the historical Baroque town below.
View from the top of Fortress Hohensalzburg, looking south toward the Nonntal district
A bird’s eye view of Fortress Hohensalzburg, looking east toward the Alps of Upper Austria
So, I set off with a group of students in search of coffee in Aldstadt (“old town”). We crossed the Neckar River by bridge and found a Viennese-style coffeehouse called Café Classic, which happened to be a part of Mozart Residence. After a lovely respite and cappuccino, we spotted some others from our group and made our way to Mirabell Palace and Gardens.
View of Mirabell Gardens from the Musical Steps with Fortress Hohensalzburg in the background. The famous Pegasus Fountain can also be seen in the photo.
The Mirabell Gardens are one of the most recognizable filming locations from Salzburg in The Sound of Music. We saw the Pegasus Fountain, Hedge Theater, Dwarf Garden, and the Rose Garden—all of which were featured at the end of the famous “Do-Re-Mi” song.
In the Rose Garden at Mirabell Gardens
Dutch irises in Mirabell Gardens
After our stroll through Mirabell Palace and Gardens, we explored the heart of the historic old town.
The old town contains five squares: Residenzplatz, Domplatz, Mozartplatz, Kapitelplatz and Alter Markt. “Residence Square is an especially magnificent forecourt between the archiepiscopal residences in the heart of Salzburg's Old City,” in the words of salzburg.info.
My mom and me in front of Residence Fountain. In The Sound of Music, Maria and the children sing around this fountain.
Built between 1658 and 1661, the Residence Fountain is the largest baroque fountain outside Italy and is considered to be the most beautiful in Salzburg.
Vegan elderberry ice cream from Eiswerk in Aldstadt Salzburg in Unversitätsplatz (University Square)
Walking down Getreidegasse on our way back to the train station
