Seniors Delight In Salzburg

Salzburg, the fourth largest city in Austria is called the ”Stage of the World”… there are so many things happening and there is so much for seniors to see and do. Located near the German (Bavarian) border, Salzburg has a population of some 150,000 people.

Art lovers call Salzburg the Golden City of High Baroque; historians refer to it as the Florence of the North or the German Rome; and, of course, music lovers know it as the birthplace of one of the world’s most beloved composers, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-91).

An important city for the tourism industry, hundreds and thousands of visitors from all over the world visit the “Small Paradise” of Salzburg throughout the year. With its depth of history, this city is regarded as the oldest and most important cultural and spiritual center in present-day Austria.

 That Name and Old Town

The name Salzburg literally means “Salt Fortress”, and derives its name from the barges carrying salt on the Salzach river, which were subject to a toll in the 8th century. Salzburg’s Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has internationally renowned baroque architecture and one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps.

Traces of human settlements have been found in the area dating to the Neolithic Age. The first settlements at Salzburg were apparently begun by the Celts around the 5th century BC.

Old Town is the #1 attraction but there are 74 more for senior visitors to explore. Although The Sound of Music was shot at a handful of places throughout Salzburg, the movie’s gazebo scene, where Liesl and Rolf sang the duet, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” was filmed at Hellbrunn Palace.

The world-renowned Salzburg Festival, since it was founded in 1920, annually attracts thousands of art and culture lovers from all over the world. Music especially but also major theatrical events form the basis for the world reputation of the Festival.

 For Senior Hikers and Bikers

In the summer the most popular leisure pursuits by far are mountain hiking and cycling. Hiking and trekking tours range from technically straightforward excursions in the Pinzgau and Pongau areas of the Grasberg Mountains to high alpine mountaineering in the Hohe Tauern region.

Senior cycling enthusiasts will find everything from easy family routes to challenging tours over the Grossglockner. The Tauern cycle path is especially popular. Lonely Planet has done a lot to change its travel websites with portions of their website that read DO, SEE, TOUR, STAY.

Fodor’s is not far behind with a great Overview of Salzburg.  I discovered a travel guide written by locals very helpful for preparing the way into the city. The photo gallery and sites were especially well done. Viator will fix you up with  tours and the Top 10 Insider’s Picks. Enjoy your stay in Salzburg.  jeb