My Favourite Place – Mirabell Gardens

As someone who earns his living from writing, it is sometimes crucial for me to clear my thoughts so that I can re-find my inspiration.

Luckily for me, I live in one of the most inspiring and interesting cities in the world.

My hometown is Salzburg and one of my favourite places to visit in the city is the Mirabell Palace and Gardens.
The beautiful, formal gardens are full of flowers, especially in spring, and I find the geometric plantings instantly restful as I take a seat on one of the wooden benches.

The gardens are regularly full of tourists but I love that aspect of them too as I really enjoy seeing them appreciating my hometown as I do.

While Salzburg is the hometown of Mozart, the Mirabell Gardens became internationally famous when several scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed there. In the film, Maria and the children sing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ while dancing around the horse fountain and using the palace steps as a musical scale. While many tourists visit the gardens to recreate the scene on the steps in their photos, even today the gardens ring with the sound of beautiful music as many classically trained musicians busk there for tips and to sell their CDs.

Mirabell Gardens are often full of the sound of music as busking players ply their trade

While Salzburg is the hometown of Mozart, the Mirabell Gardens became internationally famous when several scenes from The Sound of Music were filmed there. In the film, Maria and the children sing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ while dancing around the horse fountain and using the palace steps as a musical scale. While many tourists visit the gardens to recreate the scene on the steps in their photos, even today the gardens ring with the sound of beautiful music as many classically trained musicians busk there for tips and to sell their CDs.

There is a great little restaurant in the gardens where I often go with friends and where you can see Hohensalzburg Castle standing steadfastly on its promontory in the background. Dating from 1500, the castle is one of the best preserved in Europe. Sitting and relaxing over a meal, the surrounding environment gives you an impression of a town full of history and stories still to be told. Lucky me!

Another reason to visit Mirabell Gardens, especially on Saturdays, is to witness the traditional wedding ceremonies that are often held there. As an Austrian, nothing makes me more proud than to see Austrians getting married in our traditional costume. All those happy people surrounded by beautiful flowers, huge fountains and green trees celebrating the happiest day of their lives. If that’s not inspiring, what is?

By Jurgen

Hi, my name is Jurgen and I am a writer from Salzburg, Austria. In my free time I like to search for inspiration by wandering around the most beautiful city in the world – Salzburg. I am a passionate post stamp collector with over 2500 stamps in my collection.

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