Fishink in Munich Part 6. Salzburg and dizzying heights of the big city.

Sadly this is the final of the Germany based blogs, I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing them as much as I have in compiling them. Today we’re not in Munich as we are off to Salzburg on a two hour journey into the tip of the Austrian Alps. I spent the journey listening to Russian tones, spoken by the couple sitting next to me and reading this book with such a great cover.

Salzburg is the fourth largest city in Austria. We walked from the station, finding a route along the banks of the Salzach river with the stunning view of the city and it’s towering spires getting nearer and nearer. Even better with a touch of wintery sunlight.

The tall narrow shopping streets compete for light as well as tourist trade, and the churches and mountains rise up at either end.

Some lovely details around the city streets.

Salzburg was the birthplace of 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the mid‑20th century, the city was the setting for parts of the musical and film The Sound of Music. Today it’s as much about MozartKugeln, chocolates, as it is about his tunes.

Rather than take the cable car to the view at the top we decide to walk up. You see so much more of the details that way.

You really get a feel for the great fortress Hohensalzburg Castle, which lies atop the Festungsberg mountain. Erected at the behest of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg, it is one of the largest medieval castles in Europe.  Hohensalzburg was refurbished from the late 19th century onwards and became a major tourist attraction, with the Festungsbahn cable car, opened in 1892, leading up from the town to the Hasengrabenbastei. It stands today as one of the best preserved castles in Europe. During the early 20th century it was used as a prison, holding Italian prisoners of war during World War I and Nazi activists (before the Anschluss with Germany) in the 1930s.

We didn’t go into the Castle, preferring to be outside on such a lovely day, and the views of it from the neighbouring hilltop and of the surrounding mountains were spectacular.

Of course like all good Alpine hill tops, after the walk up, when you’re thinking now wouldn’t it be great to just have a cup of something warm, you turn the bend and there’s a well stocked chalet style shop… wow, hot Gluwein in the hills and a lesson on how to to keep your tourists happy lol.

Not only are the views pretty amazing above the city, there’s also a modern art museum tucked away up there.

Of course I’d forgotten (until we saw this shop) that the name Salzburg literally means “Salt Castle”. It derives its name from the barges’ carrying salt on the Salzach River, which were subject to a toll in the 8th century. Salt rock lights are still popular the world over, this shop had a whole wall of salt bricks.

I stumbled across a closed gallery shop of the work of Peter Gerl.

The end of a wonderful day and a great 10 day tour of Munich and Bravaria. Hope you enjoyed the sights and delights of my trip too, Please let me know and pass on a link to this blog to your friends.

I came across this great shop in Pasing, near to where I was staying. Pity it was closed over Christmas, I was keen to check out a few dance moves whilst having a cake or two, shucks another time perhaps : ) .