Salzburg & the Lakes

Whilst many places have one unique claim to fame, the town of Salzburg has two to set alongside the impressive heritage of one thousand years’ rule as an independent Archbishopric. Just over 250 years ago one of the world’s greatest musicians was born in Salzburg. Mozart followed in the footsteps of his father, Leopold, as court musician of the Archbishop of Salzburg, performing regularly in the churches and palaces of Salzburg. Indeed nearby St. Gilgen was the one-time home of Mozart’s mother and his sister, Nannerl. This arrangement includes a dinner and Mozart concert in the Peterskeller, a former monastery (AD 696). A ticket for entrance to Mozart’s birthplace and his residence is also included.

Salzburg is surrounded by dramatic alpine scenery, on one side the Lake District and on the other the Bavarian Alps which rise up to the dramatically perched Eagle’s Nest, built as a tea-house for Hitler.The West End production of the ‘Sound of Music’ is a reminder of contemporary links with Salzburg and its Lake District, location for the famous film – indeed a survey by the local Tourist Board indicated that the film influenced over 80% of visitors. Of course, one of the reasons for the film’s success was the beautiful settings that are still there today. The words ‘Im Salzkammergut, da kann man gut lustig sein’, are quoted from Benatzky’s song ‘Im weißen Rössl am Wolfgangsee‘ (The White Horse Inn), set in the still-existing inn at nearby St. Wolfgang. Its meaning is simple but appropriate to this stay: ‘You can have a good time in the Salzkammergut!’ Salzkammergut literally means ‘the treasure house of the salt’, as revenue from the area’s salt (Salz) mines allowed Salzburg’s archbishops to create magnificent churches, fine palaces and a great medieval fortress.

The charming village of St. Gilgen lies on the most famous of the lakes, Lake Wolfgang with its own small cable car. Steamers on the lake allow easy access to St. Wolfgang, once refuge to Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson, and to villages around the lake. Close by lies the imperial summer resort of Bad Ischl, where the Emperor’s villa and Lehar’s home may be visited.