Silent Night celebrates 200 years in Oberndorf, Salzburgerland

SALZBURGERLAND, Austria - Aug. 29, 2018 - PRLog -- Please do get in touch if you require more information/images:

Celebrate with a Christmas Markets tour this Advent

Silent Night, the carol universally associated with Christmas, was first sung 200 years ago on Christmas Eve in the pretty Alpine village of Oberndorf in Austria's Salzburgerland.

Celebrate this landmark anniversary with a Christmas Markets break to Salzburg and Oberndorf - less than ½ an hour by road from the city centre – and witness the local Oberndorf choir singing the world's favourite carol in Silent Night Square in front of the church where it was first performed.

Salzburg City's 2-night Christmas Market package, valid November 22 to December 26, is priced from €185 per person midweek and from €235 per person weekends (Fri/Sat) for 2 sharing B&B in a central 4* hotel.  The price includes a horse-drawn carriage ride, a mug of glühwein and a Christkindlpass for complimentary culinary delights and a few surprises.  To book visit: www.salzburg.info - price is subject to availability and includes taxes and service charges. Single supplements apply, additional nights are available and a fee of €18 per booking applies.  Fly direct to Salzburg from London and some regional airports with major airlines.

Salzburg is home to Austria's original Christmas Market dating back to the 15^th Century.  Located in Cathedral Square it marks the start of the Advent season on Thursday November 22^nd.  Open daily up to Christmas Eve, it is the largest Christmas market in the city with 96 artisan stalls offering locally-made gifts, festive decorations, culinary treats and more.  Within walking distance there are many more markets including Mirabell Platz in front of Mirabell Palace, Stern in the Sternbrau brewery's courtyard, and the Hohensalzburg Fortress, which is accessed by funicular and commands magical views over the city.  Take a short bus ride to visit the torchlit market at Hellbrunn Palace, with its windows making a giant advent calendar, and enjoy an enchanting reindeer sleigh ride.

Oberndorf's Christmas Market is in the spellbinding setting of Silent Night Square in front of St Nicholas's church and open Thursday to Sunday from November 23 to December 24. Every Saturday and Sunday at 3pm the local choir and Turmblasen (traditional hornblowers) will delight visitors with their performance - including Silent Night, of course.

In the surrounding region, every mountain village holds its own advent celebration, with local traditions proudly perpetuated.  Each one is different from all the others, making this a fascinating time to explore delightful Salzburgerland.

A selection of Christmas markets in and around Salzburg City listed in order of closest to the city:

·      Salzburg (Nov 22-Dec 26, daily, www.christkindlmarkt.co.at/ ) on Cathedral & Residenz Square.  Artisan stalls, festive snacks, glühwein.  On Saturdays Turmblasen bless the Advent Crown

·       Mirabell Platz (Nov 22-Dec 24, Thurs-Sun weekly, www.weihnachtsmarkt-salzburg.at) in front of Mirabell Palace.  Decorative huts, local handicraft, traditional produce.  Near the train station.

·      Hohensalzburg Fortress (Nov 30-Dec 23, Fri-Sun weekly, www.salzburg-burgen.at) at the Fortress above the city.  Stunning views of Christmas lights, free funicular/Fortress entry with Salzburg Card.

·      Stern (Nov 22-Jan 6, Thurs-Sun weekly, www.sternadvent.at), tucked away in Sternbrau Brewery courtyard.  Delightful boutique market, delicate hand-painted decorations.

·      Hellbrunn (Nov 22-Dec 24, daily, www.hellbrunneradventzauber.at) in the romantic torch-lit setting of Hellbrunn Palace courtyard.  Huge Advent calendar, reindeer rides. 10 mins' by bus.

·      Franziskischlössl (Nov 24-Dec 24, Fri-Sun weekly, www.franziskischloessl.at) in the castle courtyard on a plateau in Kapuzinerberg forest above the city.  Open fires, authentic gifts.  20 mins' by road.

·      St Leonhard's (Nov 23-Dec 16, Sat/Sun weekly, www.advent-groedig.com) by the pilgrimage church at the foot of Untersberg mountain in Grödig. Gingerbread/children's bakery.  20 mins' by bus.

·      Oberndorf (Nov 24-Dec 22, Fri-Sun weekly, www.stillenacht-oberndorf.at ) on Silent Night Square by the pilgrimage chapel.  Marking the bicentenary of the carol Silent Night.  ½-hour by road.

·      St Wolfgang (Nov 23-Dec 23; Thurs-Sun weekly www.wolfgangseer-advent.at) in a lovely lakeside setting and start point for an advent cruise to St Gilgen and Strobl passing the giant floating Peace Lantern and illuminated Oxen Cross.  ¾-hour's drive from the city.

·      Bad Hofgastein (Nov 30-Dec 23, Fri-Sun + Wed weekly, www.gastein.com) in the Gastein valley.  Sleigh rides in the car-free centre, nativity plays and traditional folk music.  1¼-hours by road or rail.

·      Grossarl (Nov 30-Dec 23; Fri-Sun weekly, www.salzburger-bergadvent.at), in village.  Traditional stable, children's activities, advent walk to church above village; - 1¼-hours by road.

·      Zell am See (Nov 21-Dec 23, Wed-Sun weekly, www.zellamsee-kaprun.com) in the main square.  20 wooden stalls selling toys, traditional woodwork and local delicacies.  1½-hours by road or rail.

Notes to Editors

Silent Night: lyrics written by Joseph Mohr (1816), tune composed by Franz Xaver Gruber (1818) and sung in the Silent Night Chapel, Oberndorf, for the first time December 24^th 1818.  First published in 1866 in a hymn book for the Salzburgerland region, the carol has subsequently been translated into 300 different languages and dialects.

Krampus & Perchten: Unique to Austria. Disguised in outlandish costumes and fantastic masks handed down the generations, Krampus and Perchten roam the streets at night as good-cop, bad-cop.  Perchten (good cop) bring health and good fortune and Krampus (bad cop) punish naughty children.  Gastein is especially noted for magnificent outfits and fearsome masks.  Krampus and Perchten runs in Salzburg are guaranteed on Wednesday December 5^th and Thursday December 6^th