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Salzburg is a lovely little city in northern Austria. Set in the Pre-Alps, it is surrounded by low mountains. On one of these mountains is Salzburg's famous landmark, the Hohensalzburg Fortress. Below this lies the Old City with its beautiful Baroque period churches and charming shops. Salzburg is also the birthplace of the famous 18th century composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The Hohensalzburg Fortress, built in 1077, is the largest fully preserved fortress in Central Europe. The Fortress Museum tells the history of the area since the construction of the fortress. For those who do not want to walk up the winding road to the fortress, there is a funicular (a railway going up a steep slope) that can be ridden up the mountain.

The Old City is set between the mountains. The tall spires and light blue domes of the church add to its charm. The old city was placed on UNESCO's (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) list of the world's cultural heritage sites on January 1, 1997. This brought the number of sites on this special list up to 700, which are spread over 124 countries of the world. UNESCO's purpose is to protect cultural monuments. The old town center is also very interesting for its many shops. There is even a shop open year-round that sells colorful hand-painted Easter eggs. The shops are also distinct because of their signs out front. The signs still have the symbols representing the products sold in the shop. For example, a shoe shop's sign has the symbol of a shoe. This tradition has been kept from times when people didn't know how to read.

Classical music lovers can tour the house where Mozart was born, now a museum dedicated to the life of this incredible composer. Since the days of Mozart, Salzburg has enjoyed a strong musical tradition. It is known as the city of music. There are many international music festivals held here throughout the year. The major festivals are in the spring. Because of these music festivals and its beautiful architecture, Salzburg is filled with tourists most of the year.