Salzburg is Austria’s best-loved town, because of its association with Mozart, its superb architecture, its scenic location and its two excellent gardens: Mirabell, and Schloss Hellbrunn. The best plan for a short break is a bus or taxi from the airport (approx 15 minutes) and then hire a bicycle from the shop outside the railway station – there is no nicer way to reach Hellbrunn.
Mirabell, Salzburg
Mirabell, Salzburg »
The Mirabelle Palace was built by Prince Arbishop Wolf Dietrich in 1606 for his mistress, Salome Alt, and her children. It was converted to the baroque style in two stages. First, in 1689 a new palace and garden were designed by Fischer von Erlach. Second, Lukas von Hildebrandt remodelled the garden between 1721 and 1727. The central axis of the garden is aligned on Hohensalzburg, the castle on the other side of the River Salzach. It has a central fountain, an outdoor theatre and a marvellous sculpture collection. Mirabelle has a key position in the town, near the river and between the old town and the commercial new town. It is also, as Jellicoe observed, draws upon the surrounding landscape.....
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Schloss Hellbrunn
(5.0/5)
Schloss Hellbrunn »
Austria's best example of the Italian baroque style. Marcus Sitticus, the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg, like all garden enthusiasts of his age, loved the water tricks and games which were seen to perfection in Florence's mostly-destroyed Pratolino. It is only at Hellbrunn that these garden marvels survive. As ever, they delight young visitors and those who remain young at heart. In a grotto, dedicated to Neptune, ornamental birds sing with pneumatic power from water bellows. There is an amphitheatre made from a quarry and a Roman theatre with a stone water table. An English garden was added towards the end of the eighteenth century and, near the gate, one can see the glass summerhouse used i.....
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