On January 1, 1997, Salzburg’s Old Town was honored to be placed on UNESCO's ratified list of the world's cultural and natural heritage sites.   This prestigious recognition of the historic value and quality of the city served to confirm Salzburg’s reputation as a treasure for all humanity. Among the historic and modern attractions found in the Old Town are the Hohensalzburg Castle, the Salzburg Cathedral, the city’s Festival Halls and the famed Getreidegasse, Salzburg’s most charming shopping street.

A few highlights of each follow:
The Hohensalzburg Castle was built in 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard and then considerably enlarged by Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach (1495-1519). Today, it is the largest, fully-preserved fortress in central Europe. The medieval princes' apartments and the Fortress Museum are of particular historic interest. In 1892 the first funicular railway opened from the Old Town up to the Castle.  It remains the easiest way of reaching the Castle today.

Salzburg's Cathedral is probably the city's most significant piece of church architecture and its ecclesiastical center. With its magnificent façade and mighty dome it represents the most impressive early Baroque edifice north of the Alps. Its origin is closely connected to the ecclesiastical principality's demeanour and growth. Destroyed by fire and rebuilt, enlarged and expanded, it bears witness to the power and independence of Salzburg's archbishops.

The Festival Halls: The so-called festival district is located at the foot of the Mönchsberg.  The Small Festival Hall was built in 1924/1926. The Large Festival Hall was built to designs by Clemens Holzmeister from 1956-1960. The Felsenreitschule (Rocky Riding School) was built in 1693 after plans by Fischer von Erlach. Site of the annual Salzburg Festival's main performances. The Horse Pond  was built in 1695 by Michael Bernhard Mandl.  With three theaters under one roof, each with its own flair, the Salzburg Festival is happy to have its three main stages within close proximity.

The charm of the Getreidegasse, Salzburg's most famous shopping lane, is not only generated by the high, narrow houses tightly nestled together, the enticing shops and the wrought iron guild signs, but also by its romantic passageways and courtyards. The name "Getreidegasse" underwent an interesting transformation. Initially it was known as Trabegasse, Trabgasse or Travgasse, derived from "traben" (to trot). Later it transmuted to Tragasse, Traidgasse, Getreidgasse and finally to Getreidegasse. Thus, the street originally had nothing to do with cereal (Getreide).