Salzburg Austria

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Nested along the Salzach river and amongst the Alps lies the town of Salzburg, Austria. As far as towns go, I would reccomend this place without any hesitations. As a small town (about one hundred and fifty thousand people), it lacks the big city feel that plauges many otherwise beautiful cities. Perhaps the best part of Salzburg is that the company Red Bull is based nearby (in Fuschl am See), so all the sports teams in Salzburg are called "Red Bull" or "the Red Bulls". For much of its history (from the middle ages until quite recently) the whole province of Salzburg was lead by an archbishop and was an independant political entity, even from the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the nineteenth century.

The town's landscape is dominated by an abundance of churches (im serious, theres as many churches as gas stations in town), and a large hill in the center of town sporting the Festung (fortress). The fortress is a large castle/fortification started in the early middle ages that became the military stronghold of Salzburg. It consists of a complicated series of ring walls, moats, gates, bridges, and at the very center, a living quarters for the archbishop and a garrison for his army.

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Photos

Snacks on a Train
On the way to Salzburg.

Salzburg Castle
The mist broke in the morning to reveal a spectacular view.

Smithy
The old blacksmith shop in the Castle.

The Smithy's wears.
Eric models the quality of the blacksmith's craftsmanship.

Salzburg from the castle.
From the top of the highest part of the castle, Eric specates the city of Salzburg.

St. Peter's
Technically, a chapel in on the grounds of Saint Peter's. One cannot get into this church, which adds to its mistique. Saint Peter's is a gated area consisting of a former monestary, a "katakomben", and a few church buildings. This is the oldest place of worship in the city.

Katakomben
This is an inscription from the "katakomben." They were believed to be an area used in funerary rites, but later found only to be a chapel and a cave in which hermits lived. This is acutally a quite interesting inscription narrarating the Martyrdom of Saint Maximus at the merciless hands of King Odacre in the year Four Seventy Seven. Apparently, the martyrdom did not happen here, but the plaque was erected because the location of the cave was similar to the location given in the Saints' Lives.

Eric and a statue of what seems to be a ringwraith
This is a statue we found of what really looks like a dementor or a ringwraith. Notice how Eric is not on good terms with this guy.

Ringwraith and myself
The ringwraith and I go way back.

Salzburg
Salzburg

Rachel in an arch.
Apparently, Rachel likes old gateways and stuff. We met up with her semi-randomly at a festival in Salzburg, and she went hiking with us. Here we are in part of the old medieval walls of the city.

We need siege engines
The city walls are quite impressive. I assess their six hundred year old splendor.

Pegasus
This is the Mirabell Gardens, which were imperial grounds. They had a very strong classical influence including statues from the Aeneid, as well as this Pegasus.

Dwarves
There is a very Zelda-esque part of the gardens where in a ring stand about fifteen dwarf statues. Apparently, they all (accurately) represent dwarves at one of the imperial courts. Eric shall demonstrate.

Dwarves party all night.
I shall demonstrate.

...and are kissable!
Rachel shall demonstrate.

Comments

[Alia]

Party with the dwarves!
Awesome. That is my favorite picture of all time.