AUSTRIA - Best of Europe 2014 - page 134

New (Neue) Residenz and Glockenspiel
This former palace, long a government administration building, now houses the central post
office, the Heimatwerk (a fine shop showing off all the best local handicrafts, Mon-Sat
9:00-18:00, closed Sun), and two worthwhile sights: the fascinating Salzburg Panorama
1829 exhibit; and the Salzburg Museum, which offers the best peek at the history of this
one-of-a-kind city (both sights described on here ) .
The famous glockenspiel rings atop the New Residenz. This bell tower has a carillon
of 35 17th-century bells (cast in Antwerp) that chimes throughout the day and plays tunes
(appropriate to the month) at 7:00, 11:00, and 18:00. A big barrel with adjustable tabs turns
like a giant music-box mechanism, pulling the right bells in the appropriate rhythm. Notice
the ornamental top: an upside-down heart in flames surrounding the solar system (symbol-
izing that God loves all of creation). Twice-weekly tours let you get up close to watch the
glockenspiel action (€3, April-Oct Thu at 17:30 and Fri at 10:30, no tours Nov-March, meet
in Salzburg Panorama 1829, just show up).
Lookback,pastMozart'sstatue,tothe4,220-foot-high Gaisberg —theforestedhillwith
the television tower. A road leads to the top for a commanding view. Its summit is a favorite
destination for local nature-lovers and strong bikers.
• Head to the opposite end of the square. This building is the...
Old (Alte) Residenz
Across from the New Residenz is Wolf Dietrich's palace, the Old Residenz, which is con-
nected to the cathedral by an arched bridge. Its series of ornately decorated “stately rooms”
(Prunkräume) is well-described in an included audioguide, which gives you a good feel for
the wealth and power of the prince archbishop. Walking through 15 fancy rooms (all on one
floor), you'll see Renaissance, Baroque, and Classicist styles—200 years of let-them-eat-
cake splendor.
CostandHours: €9,daily10:00-17:00,tel.[phone], www.residenz-salzburg.at .
• Walk under the prince archbishop's skyway and step into Domplatz (Cathedral Square),
where you'll find...
Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom)
This cathedral, rated ▲▲ , was one of the first Baroque buildings north of the Alps. It was
consecrated in 1628, during the Thirty Years' War. (Pitting Roman Catholics against Prot-
estants, this war devastated much of Europe and brought most grand construction projects
toahalt.)Expertsdifferonwhatmotivated thedetermined builders: emphasizing Salzburg's
commitmenttotheRomanCatholiccauseandthepoweroftheChurchhere,orshowingthat