Salzburg Old Town

The historic core of Salzburg on the left bank of the Salzach constitutes one of the best-preserved Baroque urban ensembles north of the Alps, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cathedral squares, fountain-lined plazas, and pedestrian lanes lined with townhouses bearing elaborate painted facades cluster beneath the Festungsberg. The city's role as the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in 1756 anchors a strong musical tradition that finds expression in the Salzburg Festival held annually in late summer.