Exploring the Intriguing History of Salzburg

Located in the north of Austria, Salzburg boasts one of the best-preserved city centres in Europe. One of the best things about taking a short break here is that when you fly into Salzburg Airport, transfers to the city centre are very quick and easy. As you travel in to your accommodation you may pass by many of the best historic sites of the city.

But it's not just the historic areas that entice; the city's modern aspects are also quite a draw in Salzburg. Airport transfers may take you though the newer parts of the city, where much of the university, business, shopping and entertainment are located. However, when you get settled in and want to really start exploring the city's heritage, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Old Town is a whole different world.

The Old Town

The Old Town was inscripted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and is definitely one of the main highlights of Salzburg. Airport transfers to the city might give you a glimpse of the stunning Baroque architecture, but to really explore properly, you'll need to return on foot.

As the meeting place of the German and Italian cultures, the eclectic city-state of Salzburg has developed from the Middle Ages to the 19th and even into the 20th centuries. You can wander the streets and admire the architecture that was mostly put into place by Italian architects Santino Solari and Vincenzo Scamozzi, and which has been remarkably preserved over time. Another interesting factor you may notice as you stroll about is the divide between the land of the Archbishop and that of the Burghers, as seen through the monumental architecture (of the former) and the small houses leading onto narrow roads (of the latter).

Mozart’s Home

There is no doubt that you will already have known (or will come to know very quickly) that the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg. Airport transfers to the city make take you right past his former home, which is now one of the most visited museums in the country. Displayed in the museum are see some original documents and images from the great composer, and you can also learn about his early life as a prodigy.

Mozart's residence - also known as Tanzmeisterhaus or the 'dancing master's house' - dates back to the early 1600s. It is in this house that Mozart wrote several of his famous symphonies and compositions from 1773 – 1780. Sadly, during World War Two, the house was hit by a bomb and all but destroyed. The site was then built over as an office building but, over the course of time, the Mozart Society has been able to purchase various parts of the building with the aim of tearing down the offices and re-constructing the house according to original plans.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for Salzburg airport transfers, Shuttle Direct provide pre-booked shuttles to major destinations all over Europe. Wherever you travel, Shuttle Direct can make sure that you don’t miss your car on your holiday abroad.

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