8 Retro Things To Do In Salzburg
It feels extraordinarily classy in Salzburg. I’m not sure if it’s because the city is littered with well-preserved renaissance statues or because it was once home to someone called Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart.
Walking through the streets of “Salt Castle” Salzburg, I feel the sudden urge to listen to classical music, wear ballgowns and tut at poor people. The city is virtually untouched by time and perfect for travellers who, like me, want to get lost in a different era. Here are some fancy recommendations on how to revisit the past in Salzburg.
Visit Mozart's Home
Hagenauer House, 9 Getreidegasse
Composer Mozart was a Salzburg boy. The Hagenauer Haus where he was born and lived till he was 17 has become a shrine to the musician. Inside you can walk through the original rooms and eyeball his childhood violin, clavichord, many portraits and letters belonging to the Mozart family. He seemed like he was a very spoilt little boy. If they made a shrine of my old house, you could look at my childhood plastic recorder.
As well as his home, you can also visit The Mozart Residence. In 1773, the Mozart family moved there for more space. Most of the residence was destroyed during the war so what you would be looking at is a reconstruction. A clone. A fake. A phoney.
Ski Like The Beatles
Obertauern Ski Resort
Near to Salzburg is Obertauern. The ski resort is famous for being part of the filming location of The Beatles’ Help!. As you ski, you can spot sculptures of the fab four plus almost all of the surrounding hotels and bars have framed photographs. It seems that the Austrians have a great taste in music.
A Night At The Opera
Hofstallgasse 1, 5020 Salzburg
If you’re feeling fancy, head to the Großes Festspielhaus. It opened in 1960 to accommodate the popular music event Salzburg festival. The theatre seats over 2000 people and has one of the widest stages in the world. Grab a couple of tickets and experience this ’60s haus as it was intended- for opera and classical.
Drink In Ye Olde Beer Tavern
Lindhofstraße 7, 5020 Salzburg
It would be a crime to not taste the local delicacies so I recommend the Augustiner Brau. It’s been open since the 1600s and is Austria’s largest beer tavern fabulously accessorised with a huge beer garden. For those that can’t handle a whole litre, there is a nearby traditional-style street food market where lightweights can buy food.
Do Re Mi In Mirabell
Mirabellplatz 3, 5020 Salzburg
In The Sound Of Music, the disgustingly happy Julie Andrews dances around with the Von Trapp children in the gardens of Mirabell, singing “Do Re Mi”. If you want, you’re allowed to stomp around the fountain and skip around the gardens to recreate the scene from the movie. I’m sure people won’t think you’re insane.
Eat Authentic Austrian
Old Town
Salzburg’s Old Town doesn’t just have architecture from the Middle Ages, Romanesque, Baroque and Renaissance periods, it has food too. Almost everywhere you might see the famed “Mozartkugel”- Salzburg’s signature chocolate filled with pistachio and marzipan.
You can also visit the oldest bakery in Salzburg, Stiftsbäckerei, which is still baking old fashioned-style bread. More Austrian dishes include the Schnitzel, Käsespatzle, Tafelspitz, Gulasch, Speckknödel, and Schweinsbraten. I’d recommend eating at Sternbräu, one of Salzburg’s oldest restaurants, serving up trad Austrian food.
City Views From A Castle
Mönchsberg 34, 5020 Salzburg
One of the largest medieval castles in Europe looks down upon the whole of Salzburg from a high hill. Head up to the Festung Hohensalzburg fortress to see panoramic views of the city. It’s crazy to think that it was once home to artist & ceramicist Arno Lehmann during the ’50s and ’60s. Now we can only visit and pretend to live there in our imaginations until we get moved on by the security.
A Day Trip To Nazi Germany
Kehlsteinhaus, 83471 Berchtesgaden, Germany
A day trip to Nazi Germany sounds like something a white supremacist would do but I can assure you it’s purely educational. Located just outside of Salzburg, over the border in Germany, is The Eagle’s Nest. A mountain-top hideout built as a den for Hitler and his friends to enjoy. On the way up you pass by several important locations including where Hitler’s home once stood. If WWII isn’t really interesting to you, then it’s worth going just to enjoy the breathtaking views.
If you have any more recommendations for travelling back in time when in Salzburg, then let us know in the comments below. I’d love to hear them!
Previous post
4 Traditional British Foods To Eat This Easter
