Tradition in Silver and Blue: The Sweet Secret of Elsbethen
When people think of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, they inevitably associate him with Salzburg. And when people think of Salzburg, the famous Mozartkugel certainly comes to mind. Salzburg’s Old Town was the stage for the genius, but Elsbethen—one of the eight Salzburg city villages in the southern part of the city—wrote its own little culinary success story: The Fürst pastry shop, a traditional yet very modern family-run business, has its production facility here, where the Salzburg Mozartkugel is made. But how much does „Wolferl“ actually have to do with the Mozartkugel?
What makes the Salzburg Mozartkugel unique?
For over 130 years, the Fürst confectionery has made no compromises when it comes to the Mozartkugel: to this day, every piece is still made entirely by hand. Following the recipe of its inventor, Paul Fürst, the ball—made of pistachio marzipan and hazelnut nougat—is placed on a small wooden stick and dipped by hand into dark chocolate. When the stick is removed, a small hole remains, which is finally sealed with a dab of chocolate. This makes every ball truly one-of-a-kind.
The product contains absolutely no artificial additives, and because quality is paramount, these sweet silver-and-blue balls aren’t available in supermarkets. If you’d like to try them, you can find them exclusively at the company’s five locations in Salzburg’s Old Town, directly at the factory in Elsbethen, or in their online store.
How much of that sweet confection did Mozart himself eat?
A green pistachio-marzipan center, surrounded by a layer of the finest nut nougat, coated in dark chocolate—that’s the Salzburg Mozartkugel, produced in Elsbethen. It was apparently „invented“ as late as 1890, nearly a century after Mozart’s death in 1791. So the fact is that the genius could not have eaten any Mozartkugeln during his lifetime.
Salzburg-based master confectioner Paul Fürst created this „sweet temptation“ back then for the International Trade Exhibition; it was originally called the „Mozart Bonbon“—even back then, it was a brilliant move to use Mozart’s name as a brand.
Award-Winning „Kugel“
The big breakthrough came in Paris in 1905: At the international exhibition, Paul Fürst was awarded the Cross of Honor—the coveted Honorary Diploma along with a medal—an outstanding achievement. Experts particularly praised the innovative production method, in which the chocolates were dipped onto a stick to form a perfectly round sphere without a distracting base.
But they were ahead of their time not only in the bakery, but also in terms of technology. As early as 1900, production was already being carried out using modern „motorized equipment.“ Starting in 1902, the pastry shop could be reached at the wonderfully straightforward phone number „272.“ This was a statement of pride that was also reflected in the company’s stationery at the time: The Parisian awards and the confident reference to „electric operation“ adorned the business’s correspondence.
But the long-established Fürst company is more than just the Mozartkugel
At Fürst, the classic Austrian coffeehouse tradition is alive and well. At the cafés on Alter Markt and Mirabellplatz, the focus is on traditional, freshly prepared pastries—from classics like Sachertorte, Esterházytorte, Dobostorte, and Cremeschnitten to Pariser Spitz and apple strudel. The selection changes partly with the seasons, and the cafés consistently avoid using artificial preservatives and palm oil. In the summer, the menu is also complemented by homemade ice cream sundaes.
Our Tips for a Short Getaway in Elsbethen
Anyone looking for some peace and quiet in a green setting after the hustle and bustle of the Mozart scene in the Old Town will find the perfect retreat just a stone's throw south in Elsbethen:
- Elsbethen offers wonderful hikes and trails leading toward Gaisberg. Once you reach the top, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent panoramic view of the Salzburg Basin.
- Turn off your smartphone and treat yourself to some downtime at one of Elsbethen’s traditional inns. With down-to-earth home-style cooking and a cozy atmosphere, you can really enjoy your time offline.
- The dense forests around Elsbethen are perfect for a mindful walk without any time pressure—ideal for „forest bathing“: Consciously taking in the sounds of nature has been shown to lower stress levels.
There are also more anecdotes about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in the other seven villages of the City of Salzburg: Anthering, Elixhausen, Eugendorf, Grödig, Großgmain, Hallwang, and Wals-Siezenheim.
Source: www.original-mozartkugel.com