. Salzburg city Salzburg (population 145,000 in 2003) is a city in western Austria and the capital of the federal state of Salzburg (population 520,000 in 2003). The geographic coordinates of Salzburg are 47°49? N 13°2? E. The city is well-known for its baroque architecture, extensive history, and as a gateway to the Alps. Setting The city is located on the banks of the Salzach river, at the northern boundary of the Alps. The backdrop of mountains to the south contrasts with the rolling plains to the north. The closest alpine peak - the 1972m Untersberg - is only a few kilometers from the city center. The inner city, or old town, is dominated by its baroque towers and many churches. This area is surrounded by two smaller mountains, the M?nchsberg and Kapuzinerberg. The city is approximately 150km east of Munich, and 300km west of Vienna. Early History The Festung or Hohensalzburg Fortress overlooks the great Cathedral in the middle of the Old City. The first settlements at Salzburg were apparently begun by the Celts. Around 15 BC the separate settlements were merged into one city by the Romans. At this time the city was called Juvavum and was awarded the status of a Roman municipium in 45 AD. Juvavum developed into an important town of the Roman province of Noricum. A Roman Catholic diocese was formed in the town around 700, which later became an archdiocese responsible for Bavaria. The economic wealth of the town during this time was based on salt-mining. Salz is the German word for salt, making the name literally mean "Salt castle". A variant English form of the name is 'Saltsburg'. The town's river was a main artery for transporting salt mined in nearby mountains. In 1077 the fortress was constructed under the order of Archduke Gebhard. Until 1803, the Archbishop of Salzburg was the ruler of the city and the surrounding territory. 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. The Twentieth Century During World War II, the city was lucky not to sustain heavy damage from Allied bombing runs. Although the town's bridges and the dome of the cathedral were demolished, much of its 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. Events The Salzburg Festival is a world-famous music festival that attracts visitors during the months of July and August each year. A smaller Salzburg Easter Festival is held around Easter each year. · Salzburg was a candidate city for the 2006 and 2010 Olympic Winter Games. It was a favourite in its 2010 bid, but lost out to Vancouver. On January 24th, 2005, despite low popular support expressed in a local referendum, it was once again selected by the Austrian Olympic Committee as their applicant city for the 2014 Winter Olympics. · The Europrix multimedia award takes place in Salzburg. Tourist Attractions Salzburg is considered a tourist favourite, with the number of tourists outnumbering locals by a large margin in peak times. · Skiing is a key attraction during Winter. Salzburg itself has no skiing facilities, but it acts as a gateway to many skiing areas to the south. During the Winter months its airport receives a huge number of charter flights from around Europe. · The baroque "old town", with highlights including the Salzburg Cathedral, and the Mirabell Garden. · The Salzkammergut is an area of lakes in the Salzburg state, east of the city, that is quite well-known. · The Untersberg is next to the city, straddling the German-Austrian border, and on a clear day provides panoramic views of the city and the Alps. · Eagle's Nest, Hitler's retreat, is in nearby Berchtesgaden. .