During my year stint living and loving Salzburg, Austria, this was the church I decided to attend…read moreeach Sunday for worship. Fashion and everyday dress in Europe is more formal than in the U.S. and in Salzburg, it's even more so. Being a sporadic church-goer throughout the year, it had to have been the grandeur of this place that motivated me to get up early each Sunday morning, dress my best and catch the StadtBus to church. An itinerary I miss until this day. There has been a church on this site since the 8th century, which was rebuilt in the Romanesque era. A Gothic choir replaced the Romanesque choir in 1408-50; a slender Gothic tower was added in 1468-98. The building served as a parish church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, until 1635. In 1670 the top of the church's tower had to be removed because the archbishop objected to it being higher than that of the cathedral. In 1866 it was restored in a Neo-Gothic style. The church interior received a Baroque makeover in the 18th century. The Franziskanerkirche is an especially fascinating church to visit due to its unique mixture of architectural styles: The Romanesque nave is still visible inside the church, and a 12th-century marble lion from that period is set into the pulpit steps. The tall, well-lit Gothic choir (1408-50) is supported by slender purplish columns, which reach up to an elaborate rib vault. The choir shelters nine chapels, each decorated in an elaborate Baroque style by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in the 18th century. The easternmost chapel, behind the high altar, contains a winged marble altar of 1561 from the old cathedral. The high altar, also by Erlach, is an ornate creation of red marble and gold. The Madonna statue in the center predates the rest - it is a Late Gothic sculpture by Michael Pacher of Tyrol. Christmas Eve. It was midnight mass that was the most powerful. The church was pitch black except for the light of thousands of candles lit everywhere throughout; casting shadows that appeared to dance across the ornate and towering ceiling. The combination of the resounding pipe organ and choir was intoxicating, as if my spirit was awoken and rising out of my chest. A profound moment and connection I will never forget. O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Merry Christmas! May the Spirit of the season bring you much love and hope throughout the new year! Peace be yours!

Franziskanerkirche is very ornate church in Salzburg with one of the most visible steeples in the…read moreold town part of the city. Massive columns support a very high arched ceiling. Angelic carvings are everywhere. There are beautiful paintings and masterpiece reliefs too. The sheer scale of European churches is mind boggling. Franziskanerkirche delivers! It's a nice 15-20 minute walk through....

In my Halstatt research, I gathered that this city and Austria as a whole were more open to varying…read morereligions than other countries in Europe. The Protestant Church Halstatt was built in 1785 allowing Protestants to practice their religion freely. When you see pictures of Halstatt, this is the iconic church and clock tower you see at the water's edge. It's also just a few steps from the Historic Market Square and free to enter. I popped inside for some peaceful time and soaked in the simplicity before heading out into the sun. If you're arriving by ferry, this is directly in front of the dock.

Beautiful little church in the heart of Passau. Cute from the outside, a bit plain compared to some…read moreof the churches in this area. However, once inside you can see the splendor. The most fascinating features would be the gold on black altar, the Madonna and the balconies, but there is something to see everywhere you look. Take for example the entrance doors. Heavy wooden doors with intricate carvings and the original blacksmith hammered iron hinges and door handles. This is definitely worth a visit. Keep in mind that this is an active neighborhood church and you may come across services being held or lone worshippers at any time.

Beautiful cemetery festooned with grass and flowers, where families continue to bury their loved…read moreones and visit with flowers. Loved thinking about how the last scene in The Sound of Music, while filmed on a Hollywood set, was modeled after this cemetery. 5 stars!!!

St. Peter's Abbey has a beautiful cemetery with views of Hohensalzburg in the background. Mozart's…read moresister's and Haydn's brother's graves are here. The church and cemetery are both free to enter.

Beautiful church, the decorations, frescos and statues are really impressive…read more This large building with its white towers and blue-green domes is the crucial baroque church north of the Alps. The ornately interior holds an exceptional treasure: the biggest cathedral organ in the world with 17,974 pipes and 233 registers...currently being renovated, so many of the pipes are not on site....The noon concert was not great due to the lack of organ pipes....which are expected to be ready to play again in 2027. The St. Stephen's Cathedral is the mother church of the Danube's eastern region. The magnificent cathedral with lots of Baroque influence is situated at the highest point of Passau's old town, the Altstadt.

Absolutely stunning. Was there for the Christmas market and almost didn't go in. Was so glad we…read moredid. Though somewhat underconstruction, it was gorgeous.

Salzburg Cathederal and Old Town:…read more I went on a day trip from Vienna to Melk, Hallstatt, and Salzburg. We only had 90 minutes in Salzburg -- not nearly enough time, but more than enough to know we need to go back! This review is for Salzburg Cathedral and the old town in general. I love visiting churches, and this one is truly beautiful. The old town is exceptionally well preserved, and with the castle/fortress perched on the hill above, the views and overall setting are stunning.

Simply Stunning.The body of the church is made of dark grey stone with ornamentation and façade of…read morebright Untersberg marble. The frescos inside are gorgeous. We went in twice, once for a contemplative look/see and secondly for the noon concert. The concert was intense, featured all the organs and two organists. About 300 people so buy ticket early. Saint Vergilius founded the church in 774 on the remnants of a Roman town, and the cathedral was rebuilt in 1181 after a fire.In the seventeenth century, the cathedral was completely rebuilt in the Baroque style under Prince-Bishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau to its present appearance. Salzburg Cathedral still contains the baptismal font in which Mozart was baptized