
Horse Bath (Pferdeschwemme), Salzburg
Underneath the cliff-side of Monk's Hill (Mönchsberg) sits the largest of the two surviving Medieval horse baths in Salzburg which, back in the Middle Ages, were analogues to today's car washes. In the Sound of Music movie, this long fountain is the one that Maria and the Von Trapp kids dance around and splash in water during the instrumental ending to "My Favorite Things". Additional scenes for the movie were also shot at the fountain but were later cut out from the end version.
Both of Salzburg's horse bath fountains are fed by ancient underground canals that have been in use since Roman times and revamped repeatedly during the 700s and 1200s. This magnificent high baroque watering pond makes for a fabulous attraction nearby the former royal stables, located in what is now the Großes Festspielhaus (Large Festival House) just across the street on Hofstallgasse. The Prince Archbishop's horses were cooled, washed off and watered here after their ceremonial parades. At the center of the pond, a dramatic sculpture of a dynamic horse being restrained by its handler is backed by a great sequence of frescoes portraying horses in various states of dynamic activity.
Both of Salzburg's horse bath fountains are fed by ancient underground canals that have been in use since Roman times and revamped repeatedly during the 700s and 1200s. This magnificent high baroque watering pond makes for a fabulous attraction nearby the former royal stables, located in what is now the Großes Festspielhaus (Large Festival House) just across the street on Hofstallgasse. The Prince Archbishop's horses were cooled, washed off and watered here after their ceremonial parades. At the center of the pond, a dramatic sculpture of a dynamic horse being restrained by its handler is backed by a great sequence of frescoes portraying horses in various states of dynamic activity.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Salzburg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Horse Bath (Pferdeschwemme) on Map
Sight Name: Horse Bath (Pferdeschwemme)
Sight Location: Salzburg, Austria (See walking tours in Salzburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Salzburg, Austria (See walking tours in Salzburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Salzburg, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Salzburg
Creating your own self-guided walk in Salzburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Mozart Walking Tour
Salzburg was Mozart's home for most of his brief life. He was born on Getreidegasse and baptized in the nearby Cathedral. He played his first big concert, at age 6, at the Residence Palace. He was the organist for the Cathedral, conducted the Prince-Archbishop's orchestra, and dined at (what is now called) Café Tomaselli. It was from Salzburg that he gained Europe-wide fame, touring the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Sound of Music Tour
A true mecca for music fans, Salzburg – the hometown of Mozart – has no shortage of visitors. The iconic blockbuster of 1965, The Sound of Music further added a great deal of popularity to the city. Set in Salzburg on the eve of World War II, the movie follows the lead characters – the Von Trapp family and their nanny, played by Julie Andrews – all around the city, capturing the idyllic... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour
Salzburg is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to countless cultural, architectural, and religious landmarks. The city features numerous historic places of worship, from small churches and abbeys to the impressive Salzburg Cathedral. Take the following walking tour to discover Salzburg's holy places and their history.
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Old Town Gift Shops
Specialty shops make up an integral part of tourist life in Salzburg. We've compiled a list of gifts and souvenirs unique to Salzburg, that a visitor might like to purchase to reflect their visit. Located within the Old Town, the shops are all within a pleasant walk.
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Salzburg Introduction Walking Tour
Austria's fourth largest, Salzburg is divided into "old" and "new". The Old Town, between the Salzach River and the Mönchsberg mountain, holds nearly all the charm and most of the tourist spots. The city went down in history primarily as the hometown of great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose birthplace is now a museum and one of the main local attractions. Apart... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles