THE PLACE TO FEEL HISTORY

WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE SALZBURG

Did you know that Salzburg’s old town was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in Austria? In 1996, it was added to the list of World Heritage Sites before Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna.

Two points were decisive for this. On the one hand, the architectural significance and integrity of the old town. Secondly, the cultural significance of the city, which continues to this day and attracts people from all over the world to Salzburg.

The World Heritage Site comprises the old town to the left and right of the Salzach, the Inner Nonntal, the Inner Mülln, Mönchsberg, Festungsberg and Kapuzinerberg, covering an area of 236 hectares.

Architecture between north and south

As the center of power of the prince-archbishopric of Salzburg, the old town of Salzburg today shows its baroque splendor. It reflects both the political and cultural significance. This baroque architecture is particularly impressive and unique in the area of tension between Italy and Germany.

The magnificent buildings, squares and Salzburg Cathedral were designed by Italian architects such as Vincenzo Scamozzi and Santini Solari. There are also medieval town houses and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It is Europe’s largest preserved castle complex from the 11th century.

This is stated in the explanatory statement of the World Heritage Commission:

“Salzburg played a central role in the exchange between Italian and German culture, which led to a flourishing of both cultures and a long-lasting exchange between them.”

The cultural heritage of Salzburg

As the birthplace of the musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg has been an important cultural and musical center of Europe since the Baroque era. The importance that music and culture have received here and continue to receive today is unique.

Numerous festivals are dedicated to classical music every year: Salzburg Festival, Mozart Week, Easter Festival and Whitsun Festival. Salzburg is therefore an important center of classical music. Numerous additional festivals and events on contemporary music or jazz make Salzburg a world city of music.

An important point for the World Heritage Commission:

“Salzburg’s connection to the arts is remarkable, especially to music in the person of its famous son Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.”

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