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Salzburg is proud of its past. As an ecclesiastical
principality which enjoyed the exclusive status of beeing
responsible to the Emperor directly, Salzburg was ruled by
archbishops, uniting both secular and ecclesiastical power.
The modern city is located on the site of Roman Juvavum, a
settlement which grew up on one of the major military roads
of the ancient world.
The face of the contemporary Salzburg, dominated by the
baroque majesty of the old city, was created in the 17th and
18th centuries. It was then that the Prince-archbishops Wolf
Dietrich, Markus Sittikus and Paris Lodron realized their
major building programmes, thereby leaving an indelible mark
on the architecture of the city.Even today, over one hundred
churches, castles and palaces bear witness to the power of
the Salzburg archbishops.
In 1756 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg's greatest son,
was born here. 1842 saw the erection of a monument to him in
what is today Mozart square. It was not until 1816 that the
Kronland Salzburg became part of the Habsburg Empire. The
founding of the Salzburg Festival in the early years of this
century brought new creative energy to the city, a
stimulation still felt to this day.
The many tourists visiting Salzburg today will find here a
selection of first class hotels and restaurants meeting the
highest international standards. Salzburg's old city is
famed as beeing Austria's most attractive shopping centre.
And as far as specialist trade-fairs in Austria are
concerned, the city of Mozart also enjoys pride of place. |
