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 Salzburg is a picturesque baroque city on the banks of the Salzach River and is the former site of the Roman town of Juvavum. Set against a
pristine mountain backdrop, the city and the river were named after the early residents who earned their living in the region's salt mines.
 Lying just two hours from Munich by train, Salzburg nestles just inside the
German-Austrian border. Like a number of Austrian cities it is linked to a
musical past and is the birthplace of Mozart. It offers a wonderfully preserved old town, now a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as some of the most stunning surrounding landscapes to explore, just a stone’s throw from the
Alps.
 Salzburg is very much alive and buzzing twelve months a year and there's not really a best time to visit.
Spring and summer bring a wealth of colour to the regions parks and surrounding hills, and this period draws the
biggest tourist crowds. The period from the end of November through to Christmas is an increasingly popular period when
skiers descend on the entire country and Salzburg too affords little escape from
snow lovers passing through.
 However the city is best loved by the musically inclined populations and the world-famous
Salzburg Festival, a five-week celebration of opera, orchestral music and theatre that begins in late July, is one that really brings the crowds. If classical music isn’t your fancy, never fear there's a wide range
musical events and festivals on offer throughout the year worth experiencing.
 Bearing in mind that there's no real low season here, accommodation should be
booked well in advance. Once you've found yourself a place to stay, however, you'll find the city to be an easily manageable,
hassle-free place to explore. The local bus and rail network makes Salzburg a
convenient base from which to visit the lakes of the Salzkammergut to the east, and the historic towns of Hallein and Werfen to the south and other areas both within Austria and nearby.
Salzburg, like most cities in the country, has lots to offer the tourist, from spectacular castles, wonderful museums, galleries and its own
medieval fortress, which has successfully guarded the city for more than
900 years.
 This is by no means all. Any guide to Salzburg would not be complete without the mention of its breathtaking environs:
azure glacial lakes, charming, timeless villages, luscious meadows, and the
majestic Alps nearby. An intriguing region with endless exploration and adventure possibilities, it begs your discovery.
History
 Dating back to the Neolithic era, evidence of human settlements has been found in the Salzburg. Named
Juvavum by the Romans, the small communities were grouped into a single town and by 45 AD; Juvavum had become one of the most
important cities in the province of Noricum.
During the Roman period (15 B.C. to A.D. 500) Salzburg had the status of chief town of the district. Remnants of an important Roman road and milestones can still be seen. During the fall of the
Roman Empire and great migration, Juvavum fell into decay.
 Saint Rupert was credited for the rebirth and the renaming the city. When he became bishop in 700 AD, he chose Juvavum as his base and
dubbed the city Salzburg (Salt Castle). Shortly after renaming the city, he ordained the priests and then left to evangelize among the pagans.
The Festung Hohensalzburg, the city's fortress, was built in 1077 and expanded during the following centuries.
 In 1731, Roman Catholic Archbishop Count Leopold Anton von Firmian signed his
Edict of Expulsion, declaring that all Protestants recant their non-Catholic beliefs or be
banished. The document was read publicly a few months later in hoped of driving away a few ‘trouble makers’. To the Bishops surprise, over
21,000 citizens refused to repudiate their Protestant beliefs.
Landowners were given only three months to sell their lands and leave. The Bishop confiscated a great deal of the land himself and the rest was sold for a
fraction of its value. Many children were taken from their families to be raised as Roman Catholics.
The first refugees marched north through the dreadfully cold Alps in mid-winter. With what ever belongings they could carry in
wooden wagons, they sought shelter in Germany cities that were controlled by Protestant Princes.
King Frederick William I of Prussia, saddened by their plight, accepted 12,000 emigrants in 1732, who settled in areas of
East Prussia (northeastern Poland).
 On March 12, 1734, a group of 150 of the Salzburg exiles founded the town of
Ebenezer on the Savannah River. Soon, other German-speaking families joined the refugees at Ebenezer and these
Germanic people eventually became known as "Salzburgers".
The cities favourite son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was born in Salzburg in 1756.
 In the early 19th century, the city was in decline; both politically and financially. After brief periods of French and Bavarian rule, Salzburg became part of
Austria in 1816. The second half of the 19th century saw Salzburg enjoying a
financial revival as the new railroad system brought Salzburg into the modern world.
 On March 13, 1938, German troops occupied Salzburg; political opponents and Jewish citizens were subsequently arrested, and the
synagogue was destroyed. Several POW camps for prisoners from the Soviet Union and other nations were organized in the area.
Salzburg was a concentration camp site during WWII and provided slave labour to local industry until allied bombing began and subsequently
destroyed 7,600 houses.
Remarkably, despite the heavy bombing and mass destruction much of Salzburg’s
Baroque architecture remained unharmed and is one of the few remaining examples of a town of its style.
 Over the last few decades, Salzburg has developed a strong economic structure that combined with a
central location, has helped it develop into a key link between the Austrian and German economic areas.
Salzburg is also a top tourist destination offering historic ruins, captivating beauty and a rich history. On January 27, 2006, the 250th anniversary of the birth of
Wolfgang Mozart, all 35 churches of Salzburg rang their bells to celebrate the occasion.
Weather
 Salzburg has four distinct seasons throughout the year. The weather is usually quiet mild and seldom sees any extremes. In the winter, you’ll find a bit of an overcast with the high temperatures averaging in the 30s.
One of the best times to visit is during the Easter holiday as the weather is perfect and continues to be pleasant until October. The
tourist season is officially from May to October, however, there is no bad time to visit Salzburg as you can
ski in the winter and golf in the spring and summer months. Salzburg is truly a
year-round destination.
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