Anif Castle

It is little wonder that, in the 16th century, the Archbishop of Salzburg chose the city of Anif in which to build a summer residence for the church dignitaries appointed by the Crown to govern Austrian-Hungarian Empire. Nestled deep in the mountains, this remarkably beautiful structure seems blessed by the gods. The castle's opulence speaks volumes about the prosperity and power the bishop princes derived from exploiting the region's salt mines although they lost both once the monarchy fell in the 19th century. In 1903, Anif Castle became the private property o f Count Arco- Stepperg The castle, built in the negothic style, underwent major reconstruction work between 1838 and 1848. Magnificent gardens were added all around the castle, already surrounded by water and woods. Although it is impossible to visit the castle itself, its grounds are open to the public. In fact, they constitute the setting for the annual Salzburg Music Festival.

Salzburg is the birthplace of Mozart and the famous Von Trapp family singers. Declared a World Heritage Site by the United -Nations, the city is known worldwide for its music tradition. Anif Castle is actually a popular stop on guided tours of a well -known movie's film sets. Aerial shots of the castle and Salzburg mountain countryside are featured in the opening sequence of the 1964 classic, "The Sound of Music."