Salzburg. Of the many fabulous options for a weekend outside of Vienna—or a week—or more, Salzburg and the surrounding area offers not only tremendous scenic beauty but a variety of cultural options and a rich
history. I've been to Salzburg many times but, until a couple of evenings ago, had not gone up the mountain, Mönschsberg, to the Modern Art Museum to get the classic travel magazine view over the city with its castle on the hill, copper domes, swift Salzach river and mountain backdrop.
A plaque at the mountaintop indicates that, due to a landslide in the 1600s that killed 200 people, the occupation of mountain cleaner was created which has continued annually throughout the centuries. Every spring, cleaners remove from the mountainside potentially dangerous limbs, debris and broken rocks from the previous winter's freeze.
Ah, Martha, wonderful images of the blue hour! The view from Mönchsberg is certainly spectacular - and when you are in Salzburg the next time, you should complement it view a view from Kapuzinerberg, offering vistas from the other side of the Salzach towards Mönchsberg and castle. Just have a look at it here: http://markus-spring.info/wp/gallery/places/salzburg-from-above-2/
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, Markus. Will do. Have been to the castle and abbey but not to Kapuzinerberg yet.
ReplyDeleteAlexander von Humboldt appreciated Salzburg and the surroundings long before travel magazines, not to speak of the "natives" who enjoyed an evening or early morning walk up the Mönchsberg long before tourists discovered it. ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes, and as well-traveled as Humboldt was, his high esteem of Salzburg was—and is still—to be respected. The city has retained a special beauty even 200 years later.
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