Oberndorf bei Salzburg is an alpine town, known primarily as the place where the world's most famous Christmas carol, "Silent Night", was written.
The town is situated on the Austrian-German border, in a picturesque mountain setting. It has a nice, historic building in the center, and in its vicinity there are many mountain hiking trails. However, the main attraction that attracts tourists to Oberndorf bei Salzburg is its fame as the place where the "Silent Night" was performed for the first time.
There is no longer a church where the world's most famous Christmas carol was sounded for the first time in 1818. It collapsed at the beginning of the 20th century, washed away by the waters of the river. On its ruins, in 1906, the Silent Night Chapel was erected, a simple, domed building on a central plan with stained glass windows depicting the characters of the songwriters. Every year, on Christmas Eve, a solemn midnight mass is held here, during which Silent Night is heard in various languages.
The visit to Oberndorf bei Salzburg also includes the Silent Night Museum, which displays memorabilia of Father Joseph Mohr and the organist Franciszek Gruber.
