The Department for the Preservation of the Historical City of Salzburg is the executive agency of Salzburg’s Expert Commission for the Preservation of the Historical City, and part of the Government of the State of Salzburg. In this function, the Department is responsible for the preservation of the historical built cultural heritage. The protected areas of the historical city cover 330 hectares (5% of the city district) with more than 1.400 built objects.

The Department prepares reports of the Expert Commission to the building authorities, carries out studies and suggests recommendations in regards to preservation activities, and provides information and consulting to developers, planners, constructors and other professionals. Each year 400 construction projects are attended and appraised. In the expert meetings, that take place 45 times a year, over 1000 agenda items are regarded.

Tasks and activities

• Development and implementation of Pilot Action “Virtual Tour(ist) Guide” (in co-operation with Salzburg Research);
• Providing expert knowledge and experiences concerning the  preservation of historical cities;
• Collaboration with and communication with local and regional stakeholders.

Local / regional Context

Due to the city’s beauty, the association with W. A. Mozart, the renowned Salzburg Festival, the “Sound of Music” saga and other brand features, the City of Salzburg attracts many tourists. In the “Mozart Year” 2006, Salzburg welcomed about 1.2 million persons who stayed for at least one night and there were over 5 million day-trippers. However, some areas of the historic centre are over-crowed at peak times, many traditional shops in the centre have closed down due to increases of rental prices and have been replaced by international chains, and apartments for residents have become very expensive.

It is also felt that many local people have lost their sense of ownership and that the younger generation lacks a deeper attachment to the city based on historic knowledge and appreciation of the cultural heritage. Hence, there is a need to mediate the World Heritage status of the historic centre of Salzburg not only, and not in the first place, to potential tourists but to the local people, allowing them to re-discover and experience Salzburg in novel ways.

Contact

Viktor Brojatsch (Leading expert)
Tel.: +43 662 8042 2060
viktor.brojatsch@salzburg.gv.at
www.salzburg.gv.at/altstadt