A lovely little street in the heart of the Old Town will become a true highlight of your walk through Salzburg. The narrow little houses huddle close together, chiming with charming wrought-iron signs that lure visitors into boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and souvenir shops. By order of the city authorities, all signs on Getreidegasse must follow a single style and look like traditional wrought iron with curls, monograms, and antique typefaces. The “antique” signs of airlines and modern brands look especially amusing.
The buildings on this street have an exceptionally rich history: house No. 4 was once home to the court pharmacy “At the Golden Beaver,” house No. 3 is adorned with a stucco “Eye of God,” protecting the owners of the house since 1363, and artist Ludwig Richter lived in house No. 21. But the most famous place here, of course, is house No. 9, where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born and grew up. The house was turned into a museum where you can see the setting in which the Mozart family lived, many of his personal belongings, and his first violin.
There is also a living “attraction” on Getreidegasse named Maria, though locals more often call her Marionettenfrau – the Lady with Marionettes. This wonderful woman in traditional dress and a Tyrolean hat has been delighting children and tourists since 1987, pulling funny bird marionettes out of the large basket on her back. Children adore the wooden birds named Felix dancing in Maria’s deft hands, so be prepared — you may end up buying a toy from the Marionettenfrau for your child as well.
