Hellbrunner Allee Cycle

Snapshot

A 4 km car-free corridor of 400-year-old Baroque trees, connecting the city to Hellbrunn Palace via the same avenue Prince-Archbishop Markus Sittikus rode in the 1610s. Flat, beautiful, and takes 20 minutes by bike.

The Story

The Hellbrunner Allee is often listed alongside Hellbrunn Palace as an attraction, which slightly undersells it. The avenue itself is one of the oldest preserved Baroque roads in Europe, with 621 mature chestnuts planted between 1613 and 1615 still lining the route. Sittikus designed it as a processional corridor: the long, shaded approach was meant to prepare visitors for the palace rather than simply connect two points.

The route passes Schloss Frohnburg, the yellow Baroque manor whose gate and facade most Sound of Music viewers will recognize as the Von Trapp family home. It is a Mozarteum student residence now, but the courtyard is accessible. This tends to be a quieter Sound of Music stop than the official pavilion, which suits it.

The destination end gives you Hellbrunn Palace, the Trick Fountains, the Sound of Music Pavilion, and the Salzburg Zoo, which makes the combination a full afternoon in southern Salzburg for very little cost.

Visiting

• Duration: 20 minutes cycling each way. Allow 2-4 hours with Hellbrunn.
• Cost: The avenue is free. Bike rental from multiple city-center points (~€15-20/day). Hellbrunn Palace entry is separate.
• Getting there: Head south from the Nonntal district on Hellbrunner Allee. Bike-hire shops near Makartplatz or Mirabellplatz.
• Tips: Morning light through the canopy is exceptional for photography. If you go in December, this is also the route to Hellbrunn Advent Market.