The Tranquil and Famous Mirabelle Gardens in Salzburg

Famous Mirabelle Gardens in Salzburg

In the city of Salzburg, lies the Mirabelle Palace built in 1606. The palace was damaged by the great fire that swept through the city on 30 April 1818, but the truly grand marble staircase that led into the palace, and the marble hall survive to this day. Today the palace houses the mayoral and council offices, but the Marble Hall (formerly the prince-archbishops' ballroom and concert venue) is often considered to be one of the most beautiful wedding halls in the world.

 More famous than the palace itself is the surrounding Mirabelle gardens. The gardens house countless sculptures, statues, and fountains, and you are bound to see something new and interesting at every turn – things like the Dwarf Garden, full of grotesquely deformed dwarfs!

Another famous resident of the gardens is the Grand Parterre, the oldest part of the grounds. Here you will find a plethora of Roman gods dating back to 1689. Moving forward, the large Pegasus fountain, once a centrepiece of the gardens, was installed in 1913 and surrounded by much older sculptures that represent the elements, the copper fountain is a sight to behold and well worth visiting

Another very beautiful part of the gardens is the Rose Hill, come up here for a striking view of the grounds and the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It is best to come here in the day time, however, as the spot is a well-known place for naughty meet ups in the evenings, and you may be privy to less pleasant views!

Summer time in Salzburg's Mirabelle Palace and gardens

 The Mirabelle Gardens were first opened to the public in 1854. For hundreds of years people have come to enjoy them, but it is only in recent years that you find people singing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ while running through the hedge tunnel. For those of you with a theatrical flair, the Hedge Theatre is one of the oldest of its kind, and is still used for performances today, including concerts for the Salzburg Festival. While many come to recreate scenes from The Sound of Music, today the gardens are a horticultural masterpiece in their own right, and serve as a popular backdrop for weddings and photographers.

Learn about Austria’s Famous Chocolatier

Mirabelle's famous Mozart chocolate balls

If you ask any traveller who has been through Salzburg what the best Austrian chocolate is, they are likely to say ‘Mozartkugeln’. Although Mozartkugeln means ‘Mozart Balls’ I can assure you that they taste much better! This traditional Austrian delicacy is made by coating marzipan marbles in praline, and then adding a chocolate coating to form a seductive three-layer sweet that simply melts in your mouth.

 

These bite size delights were created in 1890 and coined by Salzburg’s master confectioner, Paul Furst. Mirabell chocolate has now expanded to meet insatiable demand; however, you can still visit their birthplace in Salzburg, learn about Furst and Mozart, and pick up some chocolaty souvenirs while you’re there. It’s pretty hard to get Mozartkugeln outside of Austria, there are a few Deli websites that will export them but people say that Salzburg city is only the place you can pick up an authentic Mozart Ball, so if you’re passing through the source, try to grab a handmade version. 

The most popular and widely distributed Mozartkugeln are the ones made by Mirabell in Salzburg. They are an established Austrian brand, and follow Furst’s original recipe. They are also incidentally the only perfectly round versions of the sweet! The company have longstanding links with the International Mozarteum Foundation in the city, preserving Austrian heritage and educating people about the life and music of W. A. Mozart.

Mirabell boast that they have created 1.5 billion Mozart Balls, which would cover the earth circumference if laid side by side! I, however, recommend laying them side by side in your stomach, or taking them home for friends and family as something a little different, and quintessentially Austrian. If you want to rival Furst, and try making them at home, Mirabell have been kind enough to put some recipes up online for you to download. Mozartkugeln now come in several delicious flavours so do yourself a favour and get an assortment!

Hotel Sacher in Salzburg: A Review

Take yourself back to the 1800’s and discover the charming city of Salzburg. Let the historic elegance follow you up the grand marble staircases and all the way to bed. At the Sacher, every single room is unique from the carpets to the artwork, and has an Austrian regality the emperor would envy. From crystal chandeliers to silk-lined walls, the place oozes a Baroque sophistication that dates back to its formation in 1866.

The grand hotel sits beautifully on the banks of the river Salzach and boasts stunning views over the old town and the castle from its terraces. The classic atmosphere spills out into all three of the hotel restaurants where award winning chefs serve up traditional Austrian delicacies. The jewel on the crown of a great Austrian breakfast full of specialities is the famous Sacher torte. The five-star service is excellent, and you will get to try things you will be hard pushed to find elsewhere. The dinner menu caters for vegetarians, the bar staff are skilled, and the coffee house is great if you’d like a pastry and refreshment in the afternoon.

The beds here are big and comfortable, and the location is choice. As well as the excellent views, many of Salzburg’s attractions are within a walking distance. It’s just a quick stroll into the heart of the old town, and an easy walk to the renowned Mirabelle Palace and Gardens, as well as the Museum Carolino-Augusteum.

Hotel Sacher’s strongest point is its history filled hallways and carefully fashioned Baroque style. Although the rooms include flat-screen TV’s, if you’re looking for a minimalistic and modern luxury hotel this might not be up your street, but the place certainly earns its stars. As you explore Mozart’s birthplace, go on a romantic horse-carriage ride, visit the museum of modern art, or even take a Sound of Music tour.

Experience the Culture and Traditional that is the Salzburg Festival

Salzburg Festival (photo credit: www.salzburg.info)

Every summer, the scenic Austrian city of Salzburg plays host to the world-renowned Salzburg Festival. This exciting showcase of the country’s most talented artists, as well as worldwide celebrated operatic and dramatic performances, can be enjoyed in the city’s Great Festival Hall, which has been its setting since the 1920’s.

Historically, the Salzburg Festival has been in existence since 1877, when it was organised by the International Mozart Foundation, named after Salzburg’s most famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  After a brief respite for the First World War, the festival then continued in 1920, when Reinhardt famously performed Hofmannsthal’s Jederman, on Salzburg’s Cathedral’s steps.

Since then, the festival has included a number of iconic performances, to include one by the Von Trapp Family Singers, whose life was famously dramatized in The Sound of Music. Salzburg is extremely proud of being the setting for this classic film, which seems to be celebrated at every turn when exploring the city!

Today the festival is as popular as ever, drawing crowds of thousands from throughout Austria, Western Europe and the world to this comparatively small mountainside city. The programme for 2013 includes concerts with the Vienna Philharmonic, a Mozart Matinee by Ivor Bolton and a dramatic performance of Snow White.

The 2013 Festival commences on the 19^th July, running for five weeks until its Grand Finale on the 1^st September. As well as being treated to productions by some of the world’s best conductors, musicians, actors and singers, those fortunate enough to have tickets will also be dazzled by stunning pyrotechnic displays and a backdrop of dramatic illuminations. 

I would highly recommend the purchase of a glossy, comprehensive programme to illustrate the festival’s broad spectrum of performances and to act as a worthwhile souvenir of this magnificent event. This, along with tickets and information of all artists can be purchased from the festival’s official website

Salzburg Airport

Okay, so Salzburg Airport may not exactly be the largest facility in the world, but this is something that only adds to the charm of using it. If you have flown from some of the biggest and busiest airports in the world, Salzburg Airport really will come as a less stressful bonus.

Despite the fact that Salzburg Airport is relatively small, it still offers its passengers absolutely everything they could possibly need. From duty free, to left luggage facilities, it is all on site for you. There are also a good number of shops and specialist boutiques for you to browse around and spend the last of your holiday money on souvenirs. 

For passengers looking for something to eat or drink, Salzburg Airport offers a few venues to choose between. The main eateries can be found as Airest Catering (where there is a very good choice of different world cuisines) and the Restaurant Ikarus. There are also other bars and venues serving lighter meals and snacks in the airport.

If you need to rely on the parking facilities at Salzburg Airport, the good news here is that there are no less than 1921 spaces undercover in the grounds of the airport itself, and a further 1366 other spaces just a 5 minute drive away. Regular bus and taxi arrivals are entirely possible to the airport and there is even a train connection which will speed you to the Hauptbahnhof in Salzburg City Centre in 15 to 20 minutes. 

Once you make your way to the departure gates in the airport, at first, you may feel that these are a little on top of each other – I certainly did! However, as you sit and watch other flights boarding, you will soon realise how adept the staff are at dealing with the flights from the airport. All-in-all, Salzburg Airport should leave you feeling totally relaxed and far less stressed than when you fly from other international airports. Truly the perfect beginning and end to your time spent in this delightful part of Austria!

A Perfect Day in Zell am See

Of all the many Austrian towns I have been lucky enough to venture to, Zell am See simply must rank as a personal favourite. This settlement is located alongside the gorgeously-idyllic Zeller Lake and offers its visitors pretty much everything they could ever want: from skiing during the chillier winter months, to a plethora of water-based activities on the lake during the balmy days of summer.

I have always made a point of travelling to Zell am See every time I am in the Tyrol or Salzburg regions – I love it that much! My last trip was in March, as the town was only just emerging from what was clearly a cold winter – as the lake was still pretty much frozen solidly. On previous visits during the summer, however, I noticed how this lake really comes to life with opportunities to enjoy swimming, sailing and even pleasant boat cruises. 

First and foremost, I decided it was time for a spot of lunch and knew exactly where I was heading for this: The Grand Hotel which enjoys a fantastic position right beside the lake. There really is nothing better than tucking into a good portion of strudel whilst you soak in the majestic mountainous views through the window.

Tummy full, heart glad, it was then time to enjoy some sightseeing in this popular tourist town. The quaint and quintessentially Austrian Old Town district of Zell am See simply must be explored on a visit to the town and this is where you can marvel at the awesome architecture and frescoes of these centuries-old buildings. If you find yourself in Zell am See, do yourself a favour and make sure you visit the Stadt Museum which is housed in the oldest building in the area: the Vogt Tower. 

There are also plenty of cafés, restaurants, bars and shops to keep everyone happy, and as a year-round resort, you can guarantee Zell am See will be ready to welcome you at any time.