In the 5th century AD various tribes, mainly from Bohemia, settled in the region
of the Alpine foothill sand melted into one single tribe, the Bavarians. During the 6th century they moved into the Flachgau region and into the fertile Saalfelden basin where they met tribes of Celtic and Roman origin
who became part of the tribe. In the centuries to follow the tribe spread out into the south of the Salzburg basin and into the Pinzgau and Pongau region.
The Lungau, which was then settled by Slavonic tribes was taken in the 10th century.
Main settling areas are the Alpine foothills and the wide valleys, mainly along
the rivers Salzach and Saalach. The major part of the population lives in the city of Salzburg and in the Flachgau region (Salzburg Land).
A continuity as far as settlements are concerned has been found in the Alpine foothills since Roman times (luvavum = Salzburg).
Most towns in Salzburg were founded for military or economic reasons and because of the salt deposits in this region.