Oberndorf bei Salzburg and Laufen (Bavaria)

Oberndorf bei Salzburg — in Austria's Tyrol region — and Laufen — in Bavaria, Germany — face each other across the River Salzach. The Christmas carol Silent Night was composed and first performed in Oberndorf.

Get in

 * Salzburg is connected to Oberndorf by several local trains each day (30min).
 * Munich is about 2h by train from Laufen (listed as Laufen (Oberbay) in railway timetables). You may need to change trains in Mühldorf.

Get around
The towns are small with no public transport (other than the train links and buses to nearby villages), but you can walk around with ease. There are two bridges between Laufen and Oberndorf - a footbridge and a road bridge.

Do
Each Christmas Eve (24 Dec) Silent Night is sung in front of the chapel.

Buy
The Silent Night Museum sells various Christmas-related items, such as candles with Silent Night motif, snow globes playing Silent Night tunes, etc. As of 2005, they only accept cash, and the items are somewhat expensive (€6 for a small candle, more than €30 for a snow globe, etc.), but people still buy them for the sake of having bought them from the Silent Night Museum.

Sleep
Accommodation options are healthier in Laufen, though there are a few places in Oberndorf.

Go next

 * Salzburg is the region's main hub
 * Fucking is 30min away by bus
 * Munich is about 2h from Laufen