After our direct flight from London, we are met at the airport by Peter and Tom who will take us by coach to the 5* Hotel Bristol Salzburg where we will stay five nights. The hotel, which is directly opposite the famous Mozart Wohnhaus, was built in 1619 and is privately owned by the Hübner family and managed today by its third generation. The Emperor Franz Josef I, Sigmund Freud, the current Queen of Spain, and the cast of The Sound of Music are among the many guests who have stayed here over the years. After we have had time to settle in and for lunch, we assemble for an introductory lecture. This evening we enjoy dinner in the hotel restaurant.

Our morning lecture is entitled The Musical Connections of Salzburg, after which we leave the hotel on foot and make our way over the Makartsteg (foot bridge) to visit the Mozart Geburtshaus, situated in Getreidegasse. Mozart was born here in 1756 and today the apartment contains one of the finest collections of Mozart memorabilia in the world, including all of the principal portraits of Mozart done before the age of 18. We then make our way to St Peter’s Abbey, where Mozart famously presented his great Mass in C minor, in 1783, with his wife starring as principal soprano soloist. Following lunch at St Peter’s Stiftskeller, we spend the afternoon in another house in which Mozart lived, the so-called Dance Master’s House (opposite our hotel). As the Mozarts became more affluent, they upgraded their accommodation in Salzburg, moving to first floor rooms – which included a ballroom – in Makartplatz. It was here that Mozart lived with his family from 1773 to 1781 and the permanent exhibition in the house provides a range of interesting details about the history of the house, Mozart’s Salzburg years and the general life of the Mozart family. The remainder of the afternoon is free, but in the evening we visit one of Salzburg’s Christmas Markets.

This morning’s lecture will be devoted to a discussion about the lives of Mozart’s mother and sister – Anna Marie Mozart and Maria Anna Mozart – and this will act as a convenient prelude to visiting the Court House at St Gilgen (now a museum) where Mozart’s mother was born, and where – co- incidentally – his sister began her married life with Baron Johann Baptist Berchtold zu Sonnenburg. After our private tour of the museum, Peter will give an organ recital at the Parish Church of Saint Egidius at St Gilgen.

After lunch at a restaurant overlooking the beautiful waters of Wolfgangsee, we then visit the ancient village of Hallstadt, famous for its production of salt, and for its 16th century Alpine houses and alleyways. Depending on Salzburg concert schedules, there is an optional concert this evening.

After the morning lecture on the Prince Archbishops of Salzburg and the composers who worked for them, our time until lunch will be spent visiting on foot the Salzburg Residenz, a palace located at Domplatz and Residenzplatz in the historic centre of Salzburg. The building was first mentioned c1120, and was for centuries not only the place where the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg lived, but also where they showcased their political status. Afterwards, we enjoy a concert at the cathedral by the resident organist followed by a tour of the cathedral. Lunch will be at the Festungsrestaurant, followed by free time or the chance to explore further the extensive Christmas market.

Today, our lecture is all to do with the famous Christmas carol, Silent Night – probably the most famous Christmas song ever written. We begin our day with a visit to St Michael’s Basilica at Mondsee, and a private tour of Mondsee Abbey. This magnificent building was founded in 748 AD, but its re-modelling and present appearance owes much to the regeneration work undertaken by Abbot Bernhard Lidl (no connection with the supermarkets of that name) in the 18th century.

Following our morning discussion on the history of Silent Night, we make the journey to Oberndorf, where the carol was first performed in 1818. After lunch at a restaurant in Orbensdorf, we visit the so- called Silent Night Chapel – Peter may even sing a verse or two of the carol there – as well as the Silent Night Museum, located in the priest’s house. In the evening we enjoy a private drinks reception before a farewell dinner together.

After breakfast we check out of our hotel and make our way by coach to our designated airport for our return journey home.

6 days from £3,199 departing 28 November 2024

To book, either download the brochure from here or talk to Sandy Cornish at Tailored Travel on 01227 830624, or Tel: 020 7064 4970.  Email: info@tailored-travel.co.uk