THE GIANT CHESSBOARD IN SALZBURG

Salzburg, the city in the northwestern of Austria, is not only known as the birthplace of the classic musician, Mozart. This city has a lot of beautiful landmarks when you are touring the city. Last time during my internship in Austria, this city was my second favourite destination in Austria, after Wien (Vienna). The distance from Wels to Salzburg was almost the same to Wien. Train was the best choice to travel to Salzburg because it was only taking about 1 hours journey and the train also always departed for every hours from Wels.

The view of Altstadt, Salzburg from Festung Hohensalzburger

The train in Austria and especially in Europe is not the same like in Indonesia or any countries in Southeast Asia. The train is so comfortable and environmentally friendly way to travel as well as each wagon (coach) in a train has about 3 or 4 rooms for sitting and each rooms has 6 seats. No seat number when we purchased the ticket, we could sit everywhere in empty seats. Sometimes when the train was full, we just stood at the gang (pathway) and waiting one or some people who were getting out the train. The train stopped in Salzburg Hauptbahnhof, the main train station in Salzburg. Last time when I came to this city, the Bahnhof was under renovation and the big banner there told us that it would be finished in this year.

From the Bahnhof (train station) to the city center is so far, but do not worry, once you step out the Bahnhof, there are two options of public transportation to send you to the Altstadt (Old City also known as city center): The city bus or S-Bahn (Straßenbahn) Salzburg. For me, the bus was the best option, beside it was cheaper than S-Bahn and it also stopped at the Altstadt. The Altstadt is located in the other side of Salzach river that divided Salzburg into two parts. The river is damn so clean and the color is blue turqoise clear. From the Bushalte, we just need to a little bit walk across the bridge and came to the Altstadt. From far we could see the biggest fortress in the city, Hohensalzburg Fortress. It is located the highest peak of the city and standing so huge like a big ogre who always observed the city.

At the Neue Dom, Salzburg

There are so many ways to go inside the Altstadt, one of them that we choice was through the Rathaus (City Hall). The Salzburger Rathaus is exactly located across the Staatbruecke and beside its, there was a gang to go to explore the Altstadt. Walking about five minutes from Rathaus, we just came to the centre of Altstadt, where there was a big chatedral with a turquise dome. It is the new chatedral, the Neuer Salzburger Dom, after the old one burnt down. Around the Dom, there were alot of street artist who performed their unique abilities, from playing some traditional music instruments until being a living statue. All of them made the city was more attractive, although it was in the very cold winter. Not far from there, there was one spot that made me interested.

The Giant chessboard nearby the Neuer Dom

People try to play this giant chess

If you have ever watched Harry Potter movie in first chapter, there was part when he was battling with Lord Voldemort on the giant chessboard. Well, here in Salzburg, they have it in real, the giant chessboard. Of course it is not as big as in Harry Potter movie and also the chess pieces are not moving with the magic. The chessboard is big enough for people to walk and the chess pieces are high as the knee of the adult man. This chessboard also become one of unique landmarks in Salzburg. Everytime people walk through this area, they may stop for awhile and watching or even trying to play the chess. Not only that, nearby the chessboard there is another landmark, which is a statue of boy who is standing on the golden ball. The view of little boy is looking to the chessboard, seems like he wants play the chess also.

The game's on

Salzburg is really a nice and unique city, once you have a chance to visit Austria, you should come and visit Salzburg, The city of Mozart. If you plan to go to Salzburg, there are so many ways to reach here.

From Wien:

Take a train from Wien Westbahnhof direct to Salzburg Hauptbahnhof and it will only take 2 hours and 40 minutes journey if you just get one stops in Linz Hauptbahnof (it would be the fastest trains available). Trains always depart on every hour in both cities.
Take a bus from Vienna also possible, but it is in an organised trip done by travel agencies that take tourists with overnight arrangements and booked in packages.
There are also flight between Wien Flughafen and Salzburg Flughafen about five times a day.

From Muenchen: