Enjoying the Delightful Green Spaces of Salzburg

When you book a trip to the Austrian city of Salzburg, you probably won’t be thinking much of green spaces where you can while away an afternoon – you'll most likely be imagining art, music and the Von Trapps! But, as you will see as you whizz past on the transfers from Salzburg Airport, the city has many.

The name of the city actually means "Salt Castle", and harks back to the days when salt was mined in the region and transported up and down the river. The city has been inhabited since the Neolithic times, and is well known for its Old Town, the Baroque architecture, being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for its famous son Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. But the city also offers a rich variety of museums, cultural venues and outdoor activities to get the blood pumping. Once you've settled in from your transfers from Salzburg Airport make sure you put aside some time to visit the delightful green spaces like Mirabell Park and Garden, Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains. Mirabell Park and Garden Located within the historic centre and UNESCO inscripted Old Town, the Mirabell Park and Garden is part of the complex of Mirabell Palace. You may get a glimpse of the palace and gardens while on the transfers from Salzburg Airport, and any that take you to the Old Town will take you past the site, but you should take time to return to explore the palace and especially the grounds.

The palace itself was built in the early 1600s for the Archbishop’s mistress. The gardens were built on a north-south axis and were remodelled in 1689. In 1730 the gardens were altered again, making them some of the best Baroque gardens in all of Europe. In the 19th century, the gardens were changed yet again, utilising decorations including statues of Roman Gods and vases dating from the 1600s. Possibly the most famous part of the gardens is the Hedge Arcade, where some of the famous garden scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed. Be sure to run down the hedge and relive the movie magic! Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains Not too far from the city centre, but not a site you'll likely pass on the transfers from Salzburg Airport, lies the Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains. Begun in 1612, it was commissioned by the city’s Prince Archbishop, Markus Sittikus von Hohenems. Even today it remains as a beacon of Renaissance architecture. But although the palace is beautiful, the garden here is the real draw – specifically the fountains. The design uses a host of fountains and waterworks to create a vibrant atmosphere. The water automats, grottos and fountains put in place by the garden’s designer, Markus Sittikus, will still entertain visitors as much today as they did 400 years ago when they were first built. The water automats are water-powered figures unlike anything seen before in Europe -The Mechanical Theatre is an entire set and show powered by water! Sharp-eyed history buffs may notice the elements of Greek mythology in the design of the fountains all throughout the gardens.

Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct. If you’re looking for transfers from Salzburg Airport, 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.