Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
( palace 8am-4pm Mon, Wed & Thu, 1-4pm Tue & Fri; gardens dawn-dusk)
Prince-
Archbishop Wolf Dietrich built this splendid palace in 1606 to impress his beloved mis-
tress Salome Alt. It must have done the trick because she went on to bear the archbishop
some 15 children; sources disagree on the exact number (poor Wolf was presumably too
distracted by spiritual matters to keep count himself). Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, of
Schloss Belvedere fame, remodelled the palace in baroque style in 1721. The lavish
baroque interior, replete with stucco, marble and frescos, is free to visit. The
Marmorsaal
(Marble Hall) provides a sublime backdrop for evening chamber concerts.
The flowery parterres, rose gardens and leafy arbours are less overrun first thing in the
morning and early evening. The lithe
Tänzerin
(dancer) sculpture is a great spot to photo-
graph the gardens with the fortress as a backdrop.
Sound of Music
fans will of course re-
cognise the
Pegasus statue
, the steps and the gnomes of the
Zwerglgarten
(Dwarf
Garden), where the mini von Trapps practised 'Do-Re-Mi'.
SALZBURG FOR CHILDREN
With dancing marionettes, chocolate galore and a
big
fairy-tale-like fortress, Salzburg is kid nir-
vana. If the crowds prove unbearable with tots in tow, take them to the city's adventure
play-
central choice.
Salzburg's sights are usually half-price for children and most are free for under-six-year-olds.
Many galleries, museums and theatres also have dedicated programs for kids and families. These
include the Museum der Moderne (
Click here
), which has regular art workshops at 3pm on
Tuesdays (€4), and the matinée performances at the enchanting Salzburger Marionettentheater (
Click here
)
. The Salzburg Museum (
Click here
) has lots of hands-on displays, from harp-play-
ing to old-fashioned quill writing. Pick up 'Wolf' Dietrich's cartoon guide at the entrance.
splatz 5; adult/child/family €7.50/5/18.50; 9am-5pm)
, where they can bone up on dinosaurs
and alpine crystals in the natural history rooms, gawp at snakes and crocs in the reptile enclosure,
and glimpse piranhas and coral reefs in the aquarium. Blink-and-you'll-miss-them baby clownfish
splash around in the 'Kinderstube'. Shark-feeding time is 10.30am on Mondays and Thursdays.
On the upper levels is a science museum where budding scientists can race rowboats, take a bio-
logical tour of the human body and - literally - feel Mozart's music by stepping into a giant viol-
in case.
seum; Bürgerspitalgasse 2; adult/child/family €4/1.50/8;
9am-5pm Tue-Sun)
takes a nostalgic
