The Salsburgs go underground
The Salsburgs in the salt mines. Underground train into the mountain. Two miners' slides (the kids will go 50 times). Raft across an underground salt lake with light show. Cross the border underground — part is Austria, part is Germany.
Trick fountains! The 17th-century archbishop installed hidden water jets in garden seats, walkways, and dining tables to spray unsuspecting guests. Emily will shriek. Ricki will get soaked and pretend to be annoyed. Open Apr–Oct.
If not visited yesterday: the largest fully preserved fortress in central Europe. Golden Hall, medieval chambers, torture museum, ramparts with panoramic views. Funicular up.
The glass gazebo from the movie — 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen' and 'Something Good' were filmed here. Originally in Leopoldskron, moved to Hellbrunn grounds. Laura may insist on photos.
Sister café of Vienna's Hotel Sacher. The Original Sachertorte — dense chocolate cake with apricot jam and dark chocolate glaze. Served with unsweetened whipped cream. Ricki-and-Maritza afternoon tea.
Austria's largest private brewery, founded 1492 (same year as Columbus). Brewery museum and beer garden. Self-guided tour + tasting included. Jeremy and Ricki territory.
Morning: the salt mines. This is the emotional centerpiece of the new trip — the Salsburgs go underground in Salzburg, into the mountain that gave the city its name. You put on miners' coveralls, ride a small train into the mountain, slide down two wooden miners' slides (Stephanie and Emily will want to do this 50 times, Ricki will do it once and declare it sufficient), and float on a raft across an underground salt lake with a light show reflecting off the water.
The kicker: halfway through the mine, you cross the border underground. Part of the mine is in Austria, part in Germany. The Salsburgs will be in two countries simultaneously, inside a salt mountain, in a city that shares their name. The chapter title writes itself.
Afternoon: Hellbrunn Palace and the trick fountains. Archbishop Markus Sittikus built this place in 1619 with one purpose: pranking his dinner guests. Hidden water jets in the stone seats around the banquet table. Jets in the garden walkways. A mechanical theater powered by water. The tour guide controls the jets and WILL soak visitors. Emily will shriek. Ricki will get hit and pretend to be furious. Maritza will be bone dry because she saw it coming.
Evening: Café Sacher for Sachertorte. Or Stiegl Brewery for Jeremy and Ricki. Or just the Altstadt at sunset — the fortress glowing above, the Salzach river below, and the impossible coincidence of being a Salsburg in Salzburg.
Altstadt
Last night in Salzburg. Nightjet to Venice departs tomorrow evening.
The salt mines have been active for 2,500 years — Celtic miners started here around 400 BC. The underground lake formed naturally as water dissolved salt deposits. The miners' slides are 40+ meters long — gravity-powered transport for miners (and now tourists).
TRICK FOUNTAINS. Getting soaked on purpose. The Sound of Music gazebo. Mozartkugeln shopping. Miners' slides in the dark. This might be her favorite day of the whole trip.
Salt mines: the miners' slides are fun but optional — there's a walking alternative at each one. Hellbrunn: mostly flat gardens, very accessible. The trick fountains will get Ricki. Café Sacher is the afternoon recovery: sit, eat chocolate cake, drink coffee, watch Maritza smirk about Ricki's wet shirt.