![Altstadt (Old Town), Salzburg](/img/gd_attr/2580.jpg)
Altstadt (Old Town), Salzburg (must see)
Salzburg's Old Town, also known as Altstadt or the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg, is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site that covers a vast area featuring numerous landmarks. It encompasses the left and right banks of the Salzach river, the inner Nonntal area, the Festungsberg hill, the Kapuzinerberg hill, and the Mönchsberg Mountain. To ensure the preservation of the ancient buildings, the area is highly regulated, and most of Salzburg's tourist attractions are found within the Old Town.
UNESCO recognized the Old Town as a cultural heritage site in 1996, emphasizing its significance as the residence of Prince Archbishops and as a spiritual center of Central Europe dating back to the earliest days of Western-Christian culture. The skyline of the Old Town is defined by the spires and cupolas of numerous churches, and the colorful Baroque facades of burgher houses line the narrow lanes and small squares of the Old Town on both sides of the Salzach river. The Old Town has a Baroque appearance due to the work of Italian architects Vincenzo Scamozzi and Santino Solari. Furthermore, it is a unique Old Town that embodies the spirit of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, music traditions, and the Salzburg Festival.
The historic center is home to several landmarks, including the recognizable Fortress Hohensalzburg, the magnificent Baroque Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) dedicated to Saint Rupert and Saint Virgil, the vast Residence Square (Residenzplatz) surrounded by beautiful Baroque buildings, the 17th-century Mirabell Palace and Gardens, one of the most exquisite gardens in Salzburg, the 7th-century St. Peter's Abbey, one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Austria, and Mozart's Birthplace, the house where the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and spent his early years, now converted into a museum displaying many of Mozart's personal belongings, including his childhood violin.
The Old Town of Salzburg is home to many stunning historic sites and monuments, each providing a unique insight into the rich history and culture of this beautiful city, and it is worth a visit.
UNESCO recognized the Old Town as a cultural heritage site in 1996, emphasizing its significance as the residence of Prince Archbishops and as a spiritual center of Central Europe dating back to the earliest days of Western-Christian culture. The skyline of the Old Town is defined by the spires and cupolas of numerous churches, and the colorful Baroque facades of burgher houses line the narrow lanes and small squares of the Old Town on both sides of the Salzach river. The Old Town has a Baroque appearance due to the work of Italian architects Vincenzo Scamozzi and Santino Solari. Furthermore, it is a unique Old Town that embodies the spirit of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, music traditions, and the Salzburg Festival.
The historic center is home to several landmarks, including the recognizable Fortress Hohensalzburg, the magnificent Baroque Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) dedicated to Saint Rupert and Saint Virgil, the vast Residence Square (Residenzplatz) surrounded by beautiful Baroque buildings, the 17th-century Mirabell Palace and Gardens, one of the most exquisite gardens in Salzburg, the 7th-century St. Peter's Abbey, one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Austria, and Mozart's Birthplace, the house where the famous composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and spent his early years, now converted into a museum displaying many of Mozart's personal belongings, including his childhood violin.
The Old Town of Salzburg is home to many stunning historic sites and monuments, each providing a unique insight into the rich history and culture of this beautiful city, and it is worth a visit.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Salzburg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Altstadt (Old Town) on Map
Sight Name: Altstadt (Old Town)
Sight Location: Salzburg, Austria (See walking tours in Salzburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Sight Location: Salzburg, Austria (See walking tours in Salzburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Walking Tours in Salzburg, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Salzburg
Creating your own self-guided walk in Salzburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Sound of Music Tour
As the hometown of Mozart, Salzburg is a true mecca for music fans, with no shortage of visitors. In the past few decades, though, Salzburg's Old Town has gained international fame thanks to the Hollywood film "The Sound of Music," shot in 1965. Set on the eve of World War II, the movie follows the lead characters, the Von Trapp family and their nanny played by Julie Andrews, all... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Mozart Walking Tour
Salzburg was Mozart's home throughout most of his short life. For those who wish to immerse themselves in the Mozart world, there are several locations in the city well worth exploring.
Born on Grain Street (Getreidegasse) and baptized in the nearby Cathedral, Mozart played his first big concert, at age 6, at the Residence Palace.
Later, he served as an organist for the Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Born on Grain Street (Getreidegasse) and baptized in the nearby Cathedral, Mozart played his first big concert, at age 6, at the Residence Palace.
Later, he served as an organist for the Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour
The historic center of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, is home to numerous landmarks, including religious sites. Collectively, these historical sanctuaries, from small churches to the impressive Baroque-style Salzburg Cathedral, bear witness to the city's fascinating past and contribute a great deal of charm to its alluring present.
The local Saint Peter's Abbey is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
The local Saint Peter's Abbey is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old Town Gift Shops
Specialty shops make up an integral part of tourist life in Salzburg. The picturesque Old Town of Salzburg boasts a delightful array of gift shops, all within a pleasant walking distance, offering a diverse range of souvenirs and local treasures. Let's take a stroll through some of the notable establishments in this historic area.
We start at Kirchtag, a quaint gift shop known for its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
We start at Kirchtag, a quaint gift shop known for its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Salzburg Introduction Walking Tour
Dubbed the "City of Mozart", the enchanting Austrian city of Salzburg has gone down in history primarily as the hometown of its greatest son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His birthplace on a busy shopping street called Grain Lane (Getreidegasse) is now a museum. Also popular is the Mozart Residence, a place where the 18th-century composer spent much of his early life.
Apart from Mozart,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Apart from Mozart,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles