Winter tips: Only Salzburg can do that

1. Understanding what World Heritage means

The historic city center of Salzburg has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List for more than 25 years. But what does that mean exactly? This “city of Mozart” is beautiful and has a rich history – but so, too, do many other cities that haven’t received this honor. It is definitely worth taking a quick look at the reasons why Salzburg received the award, because they bring together the architecture, the musical backdrop and the history of the prince-archbishops. It was these three criteria, cited in the UNESCO catalogue, which led to Salzburg being granted the title back on 1 January 1997 – making Salzburg the first of what would become twelve World Heritage sites in Austria. What does that mean for visitors? They will certainly find a Salzburg that has adapted to the changing times, but which has lost none of those qualities which make it distinctive and unique. UNESCO has created a list of around one thousand individual objects within the “core zone” worthy of protection. These include the Franciscan Monastery, Palace Mirabell, the Mausoleum of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau and the Statue of the Virgin Mary on Cathedral Square. 

• more about the UNESCO World Heritage List

2. In the Footsteps of Mozart

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is the most famous artistic figure Salzburg has ever produced. His music enchants the entire world and it is impossible to imagine the events calendar of his home city without it. The life he led was also impressive, which makes it even more rewarding to pay a visit to one or both of the Mozart museums in Salzburg, where you can learn more about his family, his travels and the lifestyle as it was back in his day. Yet another opportunity to dedicate yourself to this genius and his enduring significance, is the “City Hike: Mozart”, a self-guided theme path that combines famous event locations with contemporary works of art, leads to some of the city’s most beautiful photo spots and presents all kinds of intriguing information. 
Needless to say, Mozart Week is an ideal opportunity to experience Mozart personally. Through his program, artistic director Rolando Villazón celebrates the composer in the widest variety of formats. By means of productions at the Marionette Theater, Mexican mariachi bands serenading Mozart’s birthday on 27 January and the “Amadé Mozart Sausage” served at the Stieglkeller, the great composer is very much brought into the here and now. 

• more about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

3. A world unto itself – the Marionette Theater

Located between Mirabell Gardens and the River Salzach is a small universe unto itself: At the Salzburg Marionette Theater, a private institution, figures such as the Queen of the Night, Rumpelstiltskin, Maria von Trapp and the Little Prince have been handcrafted and brought to life since 1913. Here, the marionettes are carved, painted, costumed and repaired, so that each is able to radiate its own unique charm during performances of operas and fairytales. A venue so unique, in fact, that UNESCO named it to its World Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2016. Every visitor, young or older, falls under the spell of these captivating marionettes, guaranteed to step out of every performance with a big smile on their face – a refreshingly “analog” experience in an age that is becoming increasingly digital. The fascination for this medium becomes even more intense during a visit behind the scenes, before or after the afternoon performances as well as by appointment. 

• more about the Salzburg Marionette Theater

4. Succumbing to the wintry charm of Salzburg

Pay a visit to one of the outstanding museum exhibitions, indulging yourself afterwards in a piece of cake and a cockle-warming cup of coffee in a traditional café. Take a hike through the snow atop a city mountain, then enjoy a concert in a Baroque atmosphere. Treat yourself to a shopping expedition, popping into one store after another along the picturesque Getreidegasse, and set out on a digital treasure hunt using an innovative app designed especially for kids. A small city as it is, Salzburg offers a marvelous combination of culture and nature within a conveniently compact area. The distances are short, the opportunities diverse. So, too, the businesses, which alternate between traditional centuries-old manufacturers and international flagship stores. Whether you are hunting for an accessory with a hint of folk flavor, a sophisticated handmade umbrella or the very latest purse – the shops in the historic district are certain not to disappoint. With such many and varied opportunities, a weekend trip to the city of Mozart represents a celebration of urban indulgence for some, an escape to the peace & quiet of nature for others. Or both. Something only Salzburg can do!

5. Salzburger Originals

Countless acclaimed artistic figures hail from Salzburg: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Herbert von Karajan, Georg Trakl and many more. That said, Salzburg doesn’t lack culinary artistry either, boasting a colorful array of “originals”. Undoubtedly the most famous of these is the “Original Salzburger Mozartkugel” manufactured by the Fürst family, exquisitely wrapped in its iconic silver-and-blue foil. According to legend, the Bosna sausage was also invented in Salzburg, as was the Salzburger Nockerl: With its three mounds, which represent the Mönchsberg, Kapuzinerberg and Rainberg mountains, this dessert has long since become an irresistibly enticing emblem of Salzburg. Not quite as well known, though even more exclusive, is the white caviar from albino sturgeon, which is available from Walter Grüll in Grödig, a small town to the south of the city. Meanwhile, we now have yet another mouthwatering reason to visit the Christkindlmarkt on Residenzplatz: the Haunsberger, which is essentially a Bosna transformed into a burger, only available here.