Salzburg’s Hidden Charms - Hellbrunner Bach, wild berries and views

There is a suburb in the southern district of Salzburg called Maxglan which we decided to visit today and see what the area was like as a potential home. The number 10 bus was the route we took and it was only a 10 minute bus ride from Altstadt. While wandering through Maxglan we discovered the cutest water channel running along the paths. This is part of the Hellbrunner Bach and is fed by natural springs beneath the Hellbrunn Palace. We did not know this at the time and were trying to work out if it was their sewer system or natural spring and when we noticed the stairs going down to the water as well as floaties and rings outside the properties we understood this was a swimming channel - It would be so great for kids and Daniel and Jessy would love it so we will have to come back on a hot day - there was even a bit of current running through it.

We then came back into Aldstadt and started our walk from the Kapitelplatz below the fortress. We wound our way up the cobbled path that spirals around the hill. The climb is moderate, but every turn offers postcard views over the Domplatz, tiled rooftops, and the skyline of old Salzburg.

Then came the surprise - wild blackberry bushes, there were masses of them, there are also mulberry bushes scattered everywhere too and we were wondering to ourselves if they would be edible. They weren’t ripe just yet but give it a few weeks and they would be plump and ready to eat. When googling if they are ok to eat, wonderful chatgpt has said locals do forage them especially in early September but to make sure you wash them and that they are fully black, soft and sweet.

Once at the top of the walk we took one of the side trails that looped around the fortress’s outer walls and we were very impressed by the sheer size of the walls and the castle itself. The trains were entering and leaving the castle which we watched with fascination and decided we would do this tomorrow.