AUSTRIA - Best of Europe 2014 - page 145

from several points in town, including Festungsgasse (behind the cathedral), Toscaninihof,
and the Augustiner Bräustübl beer garden. At the west end of the old town, the Mönchsberg
elevator whisks you up to the top for a couple euros. The funicular directly up to the fortress
is expensive, and worthwhile only if you plan to visit the fortress, which is included in the
funicular ticket.

▲▲▲ Hohensalzburg Fortress (Festung)
ConstructionofHohensalzburgFortresswasbegunbyArchbishopGebhardofSalzburgasa
show of the Catholic Church's power. Built on a rock (called Festungsberg) 400 feet above
the Salzach River, this fortress was never really used. That's the idea. It was a good invest-
ment—so foreboding, nobody attacked the town for nearly a thousand years. The city was
never taken by force, but when Napoleon stopped by, Salzburg wisely surrendered. After
a stint as a military barracks, the fortress was opened to the public in the 1860s by Habs-
burg Emperor Franz Josef. Today, it remains one of Europe's mightiest castles, dominating
Salzburg's skyline and offering incredible views, as well as a couple mediocre museums.

Salzburg at a Glance

▲▲▲ ▲▲▲ Salzburg'sOldTownWalk Oldtown'sbestsightsinhandyorientation walk.

Hours: Always open. See here .

▲▲▲ Salzburg Cathedral Glorious, harmonious Baroque main church of Salzburg.
Hours: May-Sept Mon-Sat 9:00-19:00, Sun 13:00-19:00; March-April, Oct, and Dec
closes at 18:00; Jan-Feb and Nov closes at 17:00. See here .

▲▲▲ Getreidegasse Picturesque old shopping lane with characteristic wrought-iron
signs. Hours: Always open. See here .

▲▲▲ Hohensalzburg Fortress Imposing castle capping the mountain overlooking
town, with tourable grounds, several mini-museums, commanding views, and good
evening concerts. Hours: Fortress museums open daily May-Sept 9:00-19:00, Oct-
April 9:30-17:00. Concerts nearly nightly. See here .

▲▲▲ SalzburgMuseum Bestplacetolearnmoreaboutthecity'shistory. Hours: Tue-
Sun 9:00-17:00, closed Mon. See here .