We had a lot of fun exploring some of Munich on our first full day in Germany. We had been debating what we wanted to do during the other days before Brandon’s conference, and several of our friends had previously recommended traveling to Salzburg, Austria – so we hopped on a train for a short 90-minute ride across the border and checked in to the Hotel Mozart!
Auf wiedersehen, Hotel im Hof!
Voter studies on the train: CA propositions and LA bishop
Settled in at Hotel Mozart!
After we checked in and dropped off our stuff, we headed out into the city to see some of the sights. We wandered through Mirabell Gardens and saw a bit of the Old Town before getting lunch and coffee at a cafe.
St. Andrä Church, across from Mirabell Palace
The garden behind Mirabell Palace
Look familiar? These are the covered tunnels in the Mirabell Gardens that Julie Andrews and the Von Trapp children scampered through during “Do Re Mi!” Our path through it was much muddier than in the film, though.
Crossing the bridge into the Old Town
We worked our way toward the Festung (fortress) perched atop the hill overlooking Salzburg. The view from up there was pretty incredible!
On the Festungsbahn headed to the top!
There were several museums inside the Festung – we checked out the main exhibit about the history of the fortress itself, but also the marionette museum and its intricate displays of puppets.
The fortress was first built in 1077 under the direction of the Archbishop of Salzburg
The last major structures were added by 1619
A cabinet made from rifle pieces, part of the military history display
One of the displays of the Rainer Regiment museum
Rainer Regiment uniforms in miniature–so tiny and so cute!
A grenadier of the Rainer Regiment
One of several WWI-era portraits by Karl Reisenbichler
Another soldier portrait
Guitar from the Rainer Regiment during WWI with many soldiers’ names etched into it
And on to the occasionally-creepy marionette museum!
Marionettes of the Von Trapp family
After we left the Festung, we strolled through part of the Old Town and saw Mozart’s Geburtshaus (birthplace). It was a little odd to see the first level of the building occupied by a convenience store, but it was cool nonetheless.
Mozart’s birthplace
(We didn’t go inside)
We also stopped by the Mozart Wohnhaus (residence), which Mozart and his family moved into in 1773 after his Geburtshaus became too small.
Each night before bed, we’d login to the cameras at Al’s resort and spy on him. Sometimes he would be trotting around with dozens of doggies and others he would be standing atop a rock. –>
We decided to spend day two in Salzburg like true tourists – we signed up for Fräulein Maria’s bicycle tour, recommended by our friends Jacob and Tracy, which was tons of fun and proved to be one of the best ways to see the city (as well as the key locations from The Sound of Music, of course).
Crossing the bridge to the old town, looking up at the Festung
A modern statue of Mozart that is apparently supposed to show his feminine side
The Festung, from the bottom of the Festungsbahn
Some of the buildings in this part of town were built right into the cliff face
We had no idea that Austrian National day celebrations were taking place on the day of our tour!
Stiftsbäckerei St. Peter is Salzburg’s oldest bakery, opened in 1160. The water wheel at the bottom of the hill powers the flour mill for the bakery.
St. Peter’s cemetery and catacombs beneath the Festungsberg
St. Peter’s Chapel in the cemetery
In the movie, this is where the Von Trapps hid from the Nazis during their escape!
Monastery structures around the cemetery
St. Peter’s Stiftskeller, the oldest restaurant in Central Europe, opened in 803!
St. Peter’s Abbey is one of the oldest monasteries in the German-speaking area, in continuous operation since its founding in 696!
The outside of the concert hall where the Von Trapps performed before their escape
Lady in Red, looking toward the man in the Dom Platz. This sculpture, and the Man on the Ball, are more modern pieces (which the locals aren’t always happy about), placed in the city by an anonymous artist
The Man on the Ball in the Dom Platz, looking at the Lady in Red
National Day festivities in the Dom Platz
Headed up the hill toward Nonnberg Abbey
Above St. Peter’s
Leopoldskron Palace, used as the back side of the Von Trapp house
Our tour guide, Tom
Our trusty bicycles
Our route took us through some residential areas and farmland as well
The view down Hellbrunn Allee, outside Frohnburg Palace
I have confidence!
The famous front of Frohnburg Palace, used as the front of the Von Trapp home in the film
Riding toward Schloss Hellbrunn
The gazebo 20th Century Fox built for the film – and then left behind as a “gift” for the city
The long walk to Schloss Hellbrunn, the Archbishop’s “summer daytime” residence
Brandon loves milk so much y’all. There was a tap to fill your own liter bottles with fresh milk for 70¢… so of course we did.
Patriotic cow
More National Day festivities
Our tour (and several others) ended back at the Mirabell Gardens
We had a wonderful time in Salzburg and loved getting to ride around the city, but after our tour it was time to get back on the train to Munich and check in to our hotel near the Gasteig. We ate dinner with some of the ESRI folks at a nearby restaurant called Wirtshaus in er Au and then headed to bed. Brandon’s big talk was the next day!
What an amazing experience. Your photos are beautiful!