WELCOME TO SALZBURGERLAND

This special supplement is devoted to a corner of the Austrian Alps that we think deserves to be better known – SalzburgerLand, one of the country's nine states and an ideal destination at any time of the year. Its capital, Salzburg – the birthplace of Mozart – needs no introduction as a cultural powerhouse, while skiers are well acquainted with the famous resorts of its hinterland: names such as Obertauern, where the Beatles filmed Help!, or Saalbach, recently awarded the 2025 World Skiing Championships. But there's so much more to this compact, easy-to-navigate region that will please the inquisitive – and hungry – traveller, from its varied and unspoilt Alpine landscapes to its exceptional produce and culinary traditions.

You'll find dreamily beautiful mountains, waterfalls and lakes; lush meadows and valleys dotted with farms; medieval villages and old towns where you can drop in on fish smokeries, local brewers and distillers, artisan cheesemakers using rich milk from the high Alpine pastures, or organic family farmers who grow half-forgotten ancient grains. You can taste local dried meats in mountain huts, satisfy your sweet tooth with intricate confections in café-bakeries, and be fed by chefs who do real justice to the seasonal larder on their very doorstep.

There's also a year-round calendar of activities to suit all inclinations. In August, music lovers flock to Salzburg for its worldfamous arts festival, which celebrated its centenary this year. Out in the countryside, summer's the season for touring the mountains on foot or bicycle, rounds of golf, or a whole host of waterborne activities from fishing to kayaking. Come winter, downhill skiing is joined by fatbike riding, skating, even hot-air ballooning.

Add to the mix a fascinating history whose legacy is waiting to be explored, from the ancient salt mines that gave the region its name – salz means salt – to the forbidding medieval castles and fairy-tale palaces built by the prince-archbishops who ruled here for centuries. And if you're looking for an antidote to the ills of modern life, you can take the curative waters in belle-époque spas equipped with the latest in wellness technology.

So do read on and plan your trip. You won't be disappointed.