March/April

In March, as spring begins in Salzburg, nature wakes up all around. Almost from one day to the next, the town reminds us of what a truly verdant place it is. The Mirabell Gardens are a carpet of crocuses, then daffodils and tulips. The trees along the Salzach and on the surrounding hills start to bud, and suddenly all is green. Even if a flurry of snow leaves the town dusted with white, the snow will not last. Tables and chairs are set up outside the cafés, and colour returns to the town. The fountains emerge from their winter casing, and on the Markartplatz the magnolia trees are in full bloom. As people celebrate Easter, the new zest for life calls for colourful dirndl dresses, worn with pride and confidence.

At Easter, traditional customs play a key role. Palmbuschen bouquets [made of foliage and willow twigs] are tied and eggs are painted. The Easter markets around the town sell special treats such as Osterpinzen [brioche], and the wild garlic that grows liberally in the Hellbrunn area. No church bells ring in Salzburg between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday. On Good Friday the faithful begin their pilgrimages and the Lenten cloths that have shrouded the altars for weeks are now removed. In some churches, such as the Abbey Church of St. Peter or the parish church in Grödig, holy graves can be viewed on Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

The Easter celebrations also bring the international audience for the annual Easter Festival, established in 1967 by the famous Salzburg conductor Herbert von Karajan. Concurrently, for over 40 years now the state-rooms of the Residenz housed the renowned Art and Antiques Fair: ‘Art&Antique Residenz Salzburg’. Spring also heralds the return of the town’s baroque spirit, and at the end of April the traditional Georgi-Ritt [St George mounted parade] held in the grounds of Hohensalzburg Fortressis a reminder that the first signs of summer are just around the corner.