Famous for its wily Trick Fountains, this Renaissance palace of the local archbishop has lots to offer.
Young and old will be delighted by the pranks played by the many ornate Trick Fountains in the splendid gardens of Hellbrunn Palace. Set among 60 hectares of verdant gardens, this is a favourite local spot for hanging out and taking in the sun – and the Wasserspiele (Trick Fountains) ensure that there's plenty to keep children happy here too. Shrieks of delight and surprise are to be heard echoing through the air on summers’ days, as the many ponds and statues, grottoes and sculptures from Greek mythology shoot water out at unexpected times and from surprising angles.Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus von Hohenems of Salzburg adored Italian architecture, and in 1612 he decided to bring the best of this design style to Austria. He employed the architect Santino Solari, and one of the most fantastic Renaissance homes outside of Italy was the end product. Check out the Mechanical Theatre, which depicts a Baroque city with roughly 200 figures which are operated by water.The gardens also take in the Hellbrunner Steintheater, a quarry which has been adapted to host theatrical and musical events. The lives of ordinary people through history are explored in the Museum of Ethnic Studies in Monatsschlössl, which contains traditional clothing, art and furnishings.Take a tour of the Hellbrunn Palace itself, and savour the frescoes adorning the walls and ceilings of the many ballrooms – the Furstenzimmer (Prince's Chambers) and Musikzimmer (Music Room) were painted by Arsenio Mascagni. The 30-minute self-guided audio tour is a good accompaniment to your walk around the palace.Hellbrunn Palace is found just to the south of Salzburg's Old Town – you can enjoy a stroll out from here among the green trees of Hellbrunner Allee. Another option is to take the number 25 public bus from the city centre. Check the website for fees, opening hours, and the prices of tour and audio guides.
