Stepping off the edge

I have returned to Austria twice since my initial trip. However, I never did get up to the HonenSalzburg Fortress on top of the hill overlooking Salzburg until now.

It’s the largest fully preserved castle in central Europe that was first built as a house in 900 AD and then continually added to by Archbishops until it became fortified in the 1700s.

Seeing the locations where the Sound of Music was filmed was on Keith’s to do list, he loves that movie! We took a bus out of town to Schloss Hellbrun with it’s dancing fountains and Leopoldskron Castle where scenes from the movie were filmed.

We wandered through the beautiful Mirabell Palace Gardens. Several scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed here. Maria and the children sing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ while dancing around the Pegasus fountain and using the steps as a musical scale.

We checked out the dwarf sculptures in the garden. Originally, there were 28, carved out of marble in the 1700’s. They were removed and auctioned off during the enlightenment of the early 19th century. Returned in 1919, seventeen now stand entertaining passersby.

The Salzburg Cathedral dome dominates the old town. Austria’s predominant religion is Catholic and it’s one of many Catholic churches in the city.

Inside is ornate ‘Early’ Baroque decor, especially the stunning ceiling.

We’ve enjoyed the art in the European cities we’ve visited. In the courtyard of the Cathedral is this unusual piece by German sculptor Stephan Balkenhol.

It’s representing the Mozart candy ball or Mozartkugel It’s the most popular Austrian confection, created by local patissier Paul Fürst in 1890 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Mozart’s death.