"Salzburg" a Salzburg Travel Page by kris-t

The birth of the town Salzburg can be set in the year 696 when the missionary St. Rubert arrived and founded the Benedictine Monastery of St. Peters. The town merged into an independent church state, ruled by a sovereign, the Archbishop. He was not only the spiritual leader but possessed also worldly powers. Its organisation was Vatican-like and Salzburg was not called the "Rome of the North" by accident.

The city is well-known for being Mozart's birthplace, its baroque architecture, extensive history, and as a gateway to the Alps.

The city is located on the banks of the Salzach river, at the northern boundary of the Alps. The backdrop of mountains to the south contrasts with the rolling plains to the north. The closest alpine peak ? the 1972m Untersberg ? is only a few kilometers from the city center. The inner city, or old town, is dominated by its baroque towers and many churches. This area is surrounded by two smaller mountains, the Mönchsberg and Kapuzinerberg. The city is approximately 150km east of Munich, and 300km west of Vienna.

In 1077 the fortress was constructed under the order of Duke Gebhard.

In the late 15th century the Jews were expelled from the town.
Until 1803, the Archbishop of Salzburg was the ruler of the city and the surrounding territory. Successive archbishop princes moulded the town, with the most influential being Wolf Dietrich who was largely responsible for the shape of the city today. His influence saw the creation of the towering Salzburg cathedral, the Mirabell Garden, and other landmarks. In 1803, Salzburg became politically a part of Austria, and so it remains to this day.