Salzburg

Salzburg

Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria. The name of the city literally means "Salt Castle". The city lies on the site of the Roman settlement of Iuvavum. Salzburg was founded as a bishopric in 696 and became an archbishopric in 798. Its main sources of income were salt extraction, trade and gold mining. One of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, the fortress of Hohensalzburg originates from the 11th century. In the 17th century, Salzburg became a center of the Counter-Reformation, with monasteries and numerous Baroque churches. The historic center of Salzburg is famous for its baroque architecture and is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps. On Domplatz you can glimpse the baroque-style Salzburg Cathedral, the main cathedral of the Salzburg archdiocese. Its ornate façade has two towers housing the largest group of bells in Austria. The richly decorated interior is adorned on the outside by a simple conglomerate cladding and a dome. It has a very large capacity of 900 seats or 15 000 standing places. The historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. The historic center and the picturesque Alpine setting attract many tourists. Salzburg lies on the banks of the river Salzach, on the northern border of the Alps. The mountains south of Salzburg contrast with the plains to the north. The nearest Alpine peak, the 1972 meters high Untersberg, is less than 16 km from the city Center.