The Hills Are Alive At The Salzburg Easter Festival World Famous Music Festival Rings In Easter
The Salzburg Easter Festival
March 31 - April 9, 2012
The snow dusted fairytale beauty of Salzburg seems even more enchanting --if that is possible -- during the end of winter when the annual The Salzburg Easter Festival blooms like the first fragrant crocus of spring.
The storied festival is as much about its location as it is about the sublime melodies that have been holding audiences rapt for over forty years. Salzburg is a city out of a dream. This jewel box of a medieval town, set in the center of the stunning snow-capped mountains and deep blue lakes is home to classical music’s favorite son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart as well as the backdrop for many Von Trapp family in the “Sound Of Music.”
The Festival begins each year on the Saturday before Palm Sunday with the opera premiere and ends on Easter Monday, when the opera is traditionally performed a second time. Six evenings of three concerts each with the Berlin Philharmonic. This is the last year to see this particular line-up. Starting in 2013 the Staatskapelle Dresden will take the reigns from the Berlin Philharmonic and become the main orchestra of the Easter Festival.
Even non-music lovers will be won over by the noble city. The moment you arrive in the 150-year-old train station and get a glimpse of the Hohensalzburg Fortress beckoning in the distance you’ll be transported to another time. Lush, proper and devastatingly romantic, the spacious squares and storied fountains are one of the reasons Salzburg’s Old Town was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
This 14th Century Castle has been transformed to a five-star hotel. This hotel is all about service. Guests are greeted with glasses of champagne and the luxury continues until checkout. Elegant rooms and spa facilities and a strong restaurant with a good wine list make this the perfect place to stay while enjoying the festival.
A short walk from Salzburg's Old Town through the SigmundsTor tunnel and down Neutorstrasse several blocks, you’ll find this invitingly cozy gem. Sit in the charming dining room, or if weather permits in the garden under ancient chestnut trees while enjoying one of the most beloved menus in town. Elegantly rustic, the menu items are thoroughly modern and sophisticated. Dine on marinated brook trout with sweet-and-sour vegetables and fresh herbs; cream of crabmeat soup with aged port; turbot with lobster mousse, spinach, and fennel; and filet of venison with white pepper sauce, noodles, and artichokes. The wine steward is first rate and will assist you in offering the perfect bottle to add even more delight to your day.
Things To Do:
Old Town
If you are visiting Salzburg for the first time you must see Old Town. Famed for its baroque architecture, this world heritage site is small, and is ideal for walking and window shopping – it only takes about 20 minutes to walk from Nonntal (the southern end) to Mulln (the northern end). If you have some time to spare, consider an Fiaker ride. These oldtime horse and buggy’s are a delightful way to put you in the Old Town frame of mind.
This Baroque masterpiece was built in 1606 and Julie Andrews in The Sound Of Music made the bucolic gardens and fountains famous. Remember when Maria and the children sing 'Do-Re-Mi' while dancing around the horse fountain and using the steps as a musical scale. It was here!
The State Rooms
Talk about fabulous. The state-rooms are sure to make and lover of interior design have heart palpitations. These opulent rooms were once the home of the Bishops of Salzburg. Hand carved ceilings, walls adorned with frescos and massive crystal chandeliers that give new meaning to the word fancy.
Getting There:
Train
The easiest, and most enchanting way to travel from Vienna to Salzburg is on. the "Westbahn" railway. The train runs between Salzburg and Vienna and takes you through some of Austria′s most scenic places.
Trains run from before 6 am until just before midnight from Vienna; from Salzburg to the capital, trains depart from after 2 am until 9:30 pm. The train ride takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. Trains depart on an almost hourly basis in both cities. the Austrian National Railway website for details or call their service centre: http://www.oebb.at/
Flights
Five flights a day connect Salzburg and Vienna. To enquire about flights get in touch with the Mozart Airport Salzburg or the Vienna Airport.
Driving
The highway between Vienna and Salzburg follows the same route as the Westbahn railway allowing for some beautiful scenery. Major international car rental companies can be found both in Salzburg and Vienna.
You may also like to read:
Season In The City: Salzburg Easter Festival
Explore Historic Salzburg While Taking In The World Famous Festival.
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