Audio Guide: Salzburg Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Salzburg

Dubbed the "City of Mozart", the enchanting Austrian city of Salzburg has gone down in history primarily as the hometown of its greatest son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His birthplace on a busy shopping street called Grain Lane (Getreidegasse) is now a museum. Also popular is the Mozart Residence, a place where the 18th-century composer spent much of his early life.

Apart from Mozart, however, Salzburg is also famous for its Medieval and Baroque architecture, as well as for the abundance of squares, the bustling hubs of activity, such as Chapter Square (Kapitelplatz) and Residence Square (Residenzplatz). The latter is home to the magnificent Residence (Residenz) Palace that used to accommodate prince-archbishops, the former rulers of Salzburg.

The city was founded as an episcopal see on the site of a Roman settlement called Iuvavum in 696. The name "Salzburg" – made up of two German words standing for salt ("salz") and fortress ("burg") – was due to the barges that used to carry salt down the River Salzach and were subjected to a heavy toll here, back in the 8th century. This "salt fortress" eventually provided the foundation for Salzburg's grandeur.

One of the most iconic local landmarks, the High Salzburg Fortress (Hohensalzburg) built in 1077 on the site of a Roman fort, presides majestically over the city. Salzburg gained independence from Bavaria in the late 14th century, thanks to its flourishing salt mining and missionary activities, and enjoyed a period of prosperity from the late 16th to the 18th centuries.

In the early 19th century, it underwent changes prompted by its absorption into the Austrian Empire in 1805 and a brief Bavarian control in 1809. After the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany (Anschluss) in 1938, the German army occupied the city. During World War II, although Salzburg suffered bombing by Allied forces, much of its Baroque architecture survived.

Today, the splendor of Salzburg is well seen in its Cathedral (Salzburger Dom), a masterpiece of Gothic and Baroque styles. The nearby Franciscan Church (Franziskanerkirche), with its elegant façade, is yet another notable architectural gem.

Present-day Salzburg is divided into the "old" and "new" towns. The Old Town, situated between the Salzach River and the Monk's Mountain (Mönchsberg), contains most of the city's tourist attractions. This is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. If you wish to make a closer acquaintance with Salzburg and make the most of your time in the city, follow this self-guided introductory tour.