Funicular to the Fortress

April 28, 2022

We started the day over the Salzach River at one of the largest open air markets in Austria, the Schrannenmarkt. The market, full of flowers, produce and food stalls, dates back to 1906 and has over 150 stalls.

Full of locals with their market bags, it was an enjoyable morning among the asparagus, cheese and tree daisies (I need to get one of those)!

From the market, we walked back into the old town, towards the Cathedral and took the funicular up to the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which is a 5-minute ride up the large hill.

The views from the front of the Fortress show the city, while in the back, the snow covered Alps.

We hiked for a very long while, being lost I think, until we finally arrived at a similar spot to view the city and hear the noon church bells, as we had in 2009, when we first visited Salzburg.

Instead of the funicular down, we hiked down the hill and stopped at the Stieglkeller Biergarten for lunch overlooking Salzburg. Stiegl is one of the more famous Austrian beers and while several options in Salzburg, this Biergarten dates back to 1820. Sitting at table clothed picnic table, we enjoyed the rooftop scenery and beers!

Next was our ho hum boat tour of the Salzach River. Not many details to share, kind of dull, but a nice sunny day! 

We decided to try another Biergarten, this one at Augustiner Brau, we are sure named after a relative of ours! This is Austria’s largest beer tavern, which seats 1000, and Austria’s largest Biergarten at 1300! Inside, there are shelves with ceramic beer steins, which you grab one. Then take it to the cashier who rings up the size of beer you want, then to a guy who pours your beer from a huge tap straight from a wooden barrel!!! We sat in the tree covered garden overlooking the Alps.  

Ok, we did 2 biergartens and there was a third within walking distance? It was on! A 5-minute walk took us the the Krimpelstatler Braugasthof, which was a smaller Biergarten dating back to 1548! Not much has changed in 500+ years, but the garden was the prettiest of them all! 

We headed back to the hotel, had a coffee along the way, and enjoyed the warm sixty-degree sunshine at the hotel terrace bar.

We followed up with dinner at Zum Eulenspiegel, which is across the place from Mozart’s birthplace. We had eaten here in the plaza in 2009 when we visited but tonight proved too cool to dine outside. But the authentically antique restaurant was beautiful inside as well!

After dinner, we sat at the quaint hotel bar toasting our best travel companions joining us tomorrow in Salzburg. Prost to them on safe travels!