10 of Salzburg's Most Impressive Buildings
The elegant, winding streets of the historic center of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are decorated with pretty facades and charming churches – but, there are also some more unusual architectural landmarks to be found.
Mozart’s Birthplace
Perhaps not so impressive architecturally speaking, but, the history behind this abode in the Old Town makes it one of the most memorable buildings. Amadeus Mozart, one of Austria’s most celebrated composers – if not the most, was born at No. 9 Getreidegasse in Salzburg, Austria on January 27th, 1756. The house, which remained in the possession of the Mozart family until 1773, is now a monumental shrine to the world-renowned prodigy, with thousands of loyal fans visiting every year to pay homage to the country’s most famous resident.
1. Heizkraftwerk Mitte
Building
Museum of Modern Art
This striking building sits atop of rocky hills above the old town, blending artfully into the organic surroundings. Designed by German architect Friedrich Hoff und Zwink, the building’s interior has some unique features, including a glass staircase in which a 19th-century water tower can be viewed through and an exterior created using marble stone from Untersberg in Germany. The work inside is split between four levels, each an elegant and stylish gallery space.
2. Hohensalzburg Fortress
One of the largest fully preserved castles in Europe, the Hohensalzburg Fortress is perched above the modest hill of Festungsberg. Built at the request of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg, the enormous medieval structure is comprised of various wings – each added at various points in history. With a rich and fascinating past and spectacular views from the hill, it has become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.
Hohenwerfen Fortress | © Österreich Werbung, Photographer: Volker Preusser
3. Hangar-7
Museum
Europark Shopping Mall
Opened in 1992 and designed by Italian architect Massimiliano Fuksas, this shopping centre is one of the largest in Western Austria. Notable for its unusual facade that stands out against the traditional buildings of the old town, the Europark is primarily made up of glass and natural space to create an illusion of being an organic landscape. Massimiliano Fuksas, whose other works include the Vienna Twin Towers and the Armani Ginza Tower in Tokyo, won prizes for his design in 1994.
4. Mirabell Palace
Constructed in 1606 by Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich, the name of this elegant palace takes its name from an Italian woman’s name, two words combined to mean ‘admirable’ and ‘beautiful.’ Inside, the extravagant marble hall, with a lavish ‘Angel staircase’ in the centre, is considered to be one of the most impressive wedding halls in the world and hosts many of the city’s classical music concerts.
Mirabell Palace in Salzbur | © Österreich Werbung / Diejun
St. Martin Chalet Resort
Not all of Salzburg’s highlights are in the city centre, with some charming Alpine architecture found in the surrounding mountains. This particular resort, located in the Lungau region, is comprised of delightful, dinky wooden chalets arranged around charming gardens, complete with fruit and vegetable patches in the summer. The chalets are of quintessential Austrian style, reminiscent of those seen in Salzburg based movie, The Sound of Music.
5. Leopoldskron Palace
Hotel
6. Salzburg Cathedral
Cathedral, Building
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