SALZBURG HISTORY |
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Indications are the first settlements at Salzburg began with the Celts.
Around 700, the Roman Empire founded Juvavum on the site of modern-day
Salzburg. Juvavum was an important town of the Roman province of Noricum. A
Roman Catholic diocese was formed in the town, which later became an
archdiocese responsible for Bavaria.
The economic wealth of the town during this time was based on salt-mining.
The town's name derives from salz, the German word for salt. The town's
river was a main artery for conveying salt that was mined in nearby
mountains. |
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Successive archbishop princes moulded the town, with the most influential
being Wolf Dietrich who was largely responsible for the shape of the city
today. His influence saw the creation of the towering Salzburg cathedral,
the Mirabell Garden, and other landmarks.
During World War II, the city was lucky not to sustain heavy damage from
Allied bombing runs. The towns bridges and the dome of the cathedral were
demolished, however much of the town's baroque architecture remained intact.
As a result, it is one of the few remaining examples of a town of its style.
In 1965, the movie The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg and the state
of Salzburg. The movie was based on the true story of Maria von Trapp, a
Salzburg-based nun who took up with an aristocratic family and fled German
occupation. Although the film is relatively unknown to Austrians, the town
draws a large percentage of visitors who wish to relive the movie by
visiting the filming locations. |
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