Medieval

Alm Canal

A medieval artificial water channel flowing through Mülln and parts of the Altstadt. Built to power mills. In winter, sections freeze for ice skating. Most visitors pass without noticing, taking it for a natural stream.

Arthotel Blaue Gans

Inn since 1549

Arthotel Blaue Gans is on Getreidegasse, Salzburg's most famous shopping street and the address of Mozart's birthplace, in a building dating to 1350. The Blaue Gans (Blue Goose) has been an inn at this location for centuries and has reinvented itself as an art hotel, filling the historic structure with rotating contemporary art.

Blaue Gans Restaurant

Inn since 1549

The restaurant of the Arthotel Blaue Gans at Getreidegasse 41. Inn since 1549. Contemporary art on the walls, Austrian cooking with modern interpretation. Medieval architecture meets current culture.

Burg Golling

Founded 12th century

Burg Golling stands above the village of Golling an der Salzach in the Tennengau, at the southern end of the Salzach gorge where the river cuts through the Hagengebirge limestone.

Burg Mauterndorf

Built c. 1253

Burg Mauterndorf in the Lungau controls the Tauern pass route through a narrow valley where it was impossible to bypass the castle without paying the toll. The Archbishops of Salzburg held this position for centuries, collecting passage fees that helped fund Salzburg's Baroque building program.

Festung Hohenwerfen

Founded 1077

A spectacular medieval fortress above the Salzach gorge near Werfen, 40 km south of Salzburg. Founded in 1077 by Gebhard von Helfenstein, the same year as Hohensalzburg Fortress. Renowned for daily falconry displays in summer. Also a filming location for Where Eagles Dare (1968). A rewarding day trip from Salzburg.

Festungsgasse

The Festungsgasse is the steep lane in Salzburg's old town that climbs from Kapitelplatz to the base of Hohensalzburg Fortress. It is a medieval path used since the fortress was founded in 1077, running parallel to the funicular (Festungsbahn).

Goldgasse

A narrow medieval lane in the Altstadt, running between the Residenzplatz area and the Salzach embankment. Quieter and more intimate than Getreidegasse.

Hohensalzburg Fortress

Founded 1077

One of the largest and best-preserved medieval castle fortresses in Europe, perched on Festungsberg hill above Salzburg's Altstadt. Founded in 1077 by Gebhard von Helfenstein, transformed into a princely residence by Leonhard von Keutschach, and never conquered. The defining landmark of Salzburg's skyline.

Hotel Elefant

13th-century building

A historic hotel on Sigmund-Haffner-Gasse, one of the oldest inns in Salzburg. 15th-century building with vaulted ceilings and thick stone walls. Mid-range price with genuine historic atmosphere. The Wirtshaus Elefant restaurant is in the same building.

Hotel Goldener Hirsch

Since 1407

Salzburg's most storied luxury hotel, on the Getreidegasse since 1407. Herbert von Karajan, Maria Callas, Leonard Bernstein, and countless conductors, singers, and heads of state have stayed here. The preferred hotel of the Salzburg Festival world.

Hotel Goldgasse

14th-century building

Small boutique hotel on Goldgasse, a narrow medieval Altstadt lane. Individually decorated rooms. One of the more refined small hotel options in the old city.

Judengasse

The historic Jewish lane in the Altstadt, a reminder of the medieval Jewish community expelled in 1498 under Leonhard von Keutschach. The lane preserves the memory of that community in its name.

Kasererbräu

14th-century monastery hostel

Historic hotel in the Altstadt with old brewing tradition. Vaulted spaces, thick walls. An atmospheric choice in the heart of the UNESCO zone. The particular quality that only genuinely old buildings possess.

Krone 1512

Documented since 1512

Boutique hotel on Linzer Gasse, documented since 1512. Individually designed rooms. Historic character. Good mid-range boutique for personality and location.

Nonnberg Abbey

Founded c. 712 AD

Nonnberg Abbey has been a working convent since around 714, making it the oldest continuously operating women's monastery north of the Alps. That is not a tourist claim. The nuns are still there, and they open the church for visitors in the mornings, though the convent itself stays closed.

Nonnbergstiege

The steep stone staircase climbing to Nonnberg Abbey. Sound of Music filming location. Maria walks these stairs. Medieval origins. View back down over Nonntal rooftops.

Petersfriedhof

St. Peter's Cemetery in Salzburg has been continuously used since around 700 AD, making it one of the oldest Christian cemeteries in the German-speaking world. The graves press up against the cliff face of the Mönchsberg, where early Christian catacombs are carved directly into the rock.

Schloss Goldegg

Founded 13th century

A small medieval lake castle in the Pongau. The Rittersaal (Knights' Hall) has an early 16th-century painted wooden ceiling, one of the finest examples of secular Renaissance decoration in Austria. Now a hotel and cultural centre beside the Goldegger See.

Schloss Moosham

Founded 13th century

A dramatic medieval castle in the Lungau with a sinister history. A site of witch trials in the late 17th century, one of the most intense periods of witch persecution in the region. Now privately owned by the Wilczek family and open to visitors. One of the most atmospheric and historically layered castles in the Salzburg region.

Seeschloss Ort

A lake castle connected to shore by a 123-meter wooden bridge, the emblem of Gmunden and the Traunsee. The castle dates from the 10th century. The Landschloss (shore castle) adjacent hosts exhibitions. The Seeschloss itself is a wedding venue. The bridge and castle composition is one of the most photographed in Upper Austria.

Steingasse

The Steingasse is the narrow medieval lane on Salzburg's right bank that most visitors miss entirely because everyone crosses to the left bank for the cathedral and the Getreidegasse. That is their mistake.

Stift Michaelbeuern

One of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Austria, founded in the 8th century and continuously active since. Located in the Flachgau about 25 km north of Salzburg, with a Romanesque abbey church featuring remarkable frescoes.

Stift St. Peter (St. Peter's Abbey)

Founded c. 696 AD

The oldest continuously existing monastery in the German-speaking world. Founded by Saint Rupert of Salzburg around 696 AD. The church interior is the work of Beda Seeauer (rococo redecoration, 1760-1782). Michael Haydn is buried in the crypt. Altomonte's altar paintings enrich the abbey church. The Stiftskeller St.

Stiftsbäckerei St. Peter

Operating since 803 AD

The bakery of St. Peter's Abbey, operating since at least 803 AD. One of the oldest continuously operating businesses of any kind in the world. The wood-fired stone oven has been baking bread for over 1,200 years.

Stiftskeller St. Peter

Documented since 803 AD

Claimed to be the oldest restaurant in Europe, documented since 803 AD. Located at Stift St. Peter, tucked into the Mönchsberg cliff. Mozart is believed to have dined here. Still run in association with the Benedictine monks.

Zum Eulenspiegel

A traditional Austrian restaurant near Alter Markt, best known for its atmospheric medieval vaulted cellar dining rooms. Wiener Schnitzel, Tafelspitz, game dishes, and Salzburg regional specialities.