Sightseeing in Salzburg – Salzburg sights & tours

Salzburg Cathedral is the most colossal early baroque building in the north of the Alps. The first cathedral was erected under St. Virgil in 774, from 1181-1200 the early Romanesque monastery was expanded. The monastery was torn down after a fire in 1598. In 1614 building works for a new cathedral were started under Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus following building plans by Santino Solari. The new cathedral was sanctified by Prince Archbishop Paris Lodron in 1628.

The statues on the beautiful façade span a bridge between the local parish and the Christian community of the world: the saints Peter and Paul stand side by side with the local saints Rupert and Vergilius. Above you will find the four evangelists, and on the gable above, Moses and Elias the creator. Right in the middle of the Domplatz Square is the Marian Column created by Wolfgang and Johann Baptist Hagenauer between 1766 and 1771 under Prince Archbishop Sigismund Graf Schrattenbach.

The Cathedral Treasury is especially interesting, comprising religious art form the archdioceses of Salzburg from the Middle Ages to the 19th century; and the slightly bizarre Chamber of Secrets, a collection of curious items by the archbishops of the 17th and 18th centuries. Excavations beneath the cathedral are also accessible.

The Mozartplatz Square with the Mozart Monument by Ludwig von Schwanthaler (1842) was created when several medieval town houses were torn down at the behest of Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich. On September 5th 1842 the Mozart Monument was unveiled in the presence of the sons of the musical genius. Mozart's widow Constanze von Nissen unfortunately did not live to see this ceremony. She died shortly before that on March 6th 1842. A commemorative plaque still bears testament to her at number 8 Mozartplatz Square. The square was called Michaelsplatz Square before being renamed – and a baroque fountain with a statue of St. Michael had to give way to the Mozart Monument.

Number 4 Mozartplatz Square, the so called “Antretter House“ is today the home of the music faculty of the University of Salzburg. The former provincial chancellor and member of the war council Ernst von Antretter and his wife Elisabeth bought this house in September 1765. The Antretter family were close friends of the Mozart family – Cajetan, a son of  Mr. Antretter for instance was in the same crossbow club as the Mozarts and a daughter was a pupil of Nannerl Mozart. The Antretter family were sponsors of the “Antretter Serenade", KV 185. Many letters and diary entries are a testament to the close friendship between the two families. The beautiful building dating back to the 16th century is certainly worth a visit.

Mozartplatz

Mozartplatz und Mozart-Statue

Mozartstatue

Since 1920 the Domplatz Square in Salzburg has served as a stage for the traditional play “Everyman“. The play about the life and death of the rich man by Hugo von Hoffmansthal enthrals new audiences every year.

How does man cope with death? How does he cope with the last moments of his life, when nothing can be planned or controlled? When he is completely helpless in the face of the inevitable? We marvel at the end, being left slightly scared. We push things aside, do not want to believe, and are truly shaken when the inevitable finally does occur. Just like Everyman.

“Everyman” is performed in the course of the Salzburg summer festival. The team at the reception desk at the Hotel Neutor will gladly assist you with booking tickets. Please take into account that there is only a very limited availability; please enquire as soon as possible.

The Christmas market at the Domplatz Square in Salzburg is one of the most famous Christmas markets in the world. Alongside traditional crafts, delicious Christmas treats such as mulled wine and punch can be found. The Salzburg Christmas market with its unique magic ambience is certainly a “must see” if you travel to the City of Mozart during the Christmas season.

You will get to the traditional Christmas market at the Domplatz Square in the space of just a few minutes on foot from your Salzburg hotel, the Hotel Neutor-Künstlertreff. The Christmas market takes place between November and New Year's Eve.

The landmark of Salzburg is the fortress: 250 metres long and 150 metres wide it is the largest remaining fortress building in Central Europe. The Hohensalzburg Fortress is conveniently accessible on foot or by cable car (from the valley station at the Festungsgasse Alley).

Construction work of the fortress started in 1077. The fortress was considerably extended under Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach in around 1500. The building was completed by Prince Archbishop Max Gandolf Kuenburg in 1681. In 1861 the fortress was abandoned as a military institution and has been used as a tourism facility ever since.

The cable car was installed in 1900 to grant better access to the Hohensalzburg Fortress. The secular rooms from the Gothic period, the castle museum, and the exhibition of medieval arms, trade tools and torture instruments are especially fascinating. In addition you will find the museum of the legendary Austrian military unit, the Erzherzog Rainer Regiment.

The outdoor area of the fortress is accessible without the need for a guided tour – which is mandatory for the interior rooms of the castle. Concerts are frequently held at the fortress – sometimes even in the picturesque fortress chapel.

The Collegiate Church Salzburg is the largest and most beautiful church built by the master architect Fischers von Erlach (1696-1707), that was originally built to serve as a church to the University. The 18th century altarpieces by J. M. Rottmayr are the crowning glory of this architectural gem with its beautiful convex façade.

The Collegiate Church lies at the Universitätsplatz Square, where a farmer's market is held during the week where delicious vegetables and Austrian specialities are available.

The Collegiate Church is a magnificent baroque sacral building and is considered the masterpiece of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. The church is dedicated  to “Our Dear Lady“.

The church was built next to the University and the Furtwänglerpark Gardens between 1696 and 1707. The visible side of the Collegiate Church faces north and will astound you with countless details – such as the two bell towers crowned by four magnificent statues each.

Three round arch arcades separate the entrance hall from the main nave. Gentle décor entwines the large windows of the Collegiate Church. The coat of arms of Archbishop Johann Ernst Thun is proudly displayed at the gable. Above rise the figures of angels and the Virgin Mary, framed by the statues of the four evangelists on the left tower and four church fathers on the right tower, which were created by Michael Bernhard Mandl.

Pass through the oval entrance hall adorned with delicate stucco to enter the light flooded nave of the Collegiate Church of Salzburg. Stoups held by angels lead the way into the nave. Instead of a high altar the church originally housed a stone tabernacle; the present altar dates back to the year 1735. Angels soar above seven semicircular red marble pillars, the Archangel Michael at their centre – and further above allegorical figures of the Christian faith are displayed. Above the angels soars a stucco heaven of clouds, sunbeams and putti around the floating Virgin Mary. This design by Fischer von Erlach was implemented by Diego Francesco Carlone and Paolo d`Allio. The high altar was created by Josef Anton Pfaffinger.

The Salzburg Festival Halls lie at the foot of the Mönchsberg Mountain, at the heart of the so called festival district. You will get there from the Salzburg hotel, the Hotel Neutor, in the space of five minutes on foot.

The Kleines Festspielhaus (Small Festival Hall) was built between 1924 and 1926, the Großes Festspielhaus (Great Festival Hall) was built by the architect Clemens Holzmeister between 1956 and1960. The Felsenreitschule (the old archbishop's horse stables) was built in 1693 following designs by Fischer von Erlach. The Festival Halls are the main venue of the annual Salzburg Festival. The horse pond in close vicinity was created by Michael Bernhard Mandl in 1695.

The Great Festival Hall was designed by the great Austrian architect Clemens Holzmeister and inaugurated by Herbert von Karajan in 1960. The facade of the former baroque horse stable designed by Fischer von Erlach was retained and the foyer is equally reminiscent of its former use. 2,177 seats with a great view are available at the Festival Hall which serves as a venue for opera performances and large concerts. The band shell was designed by the stage designer Richard Peduzzi. The portal of the main stage may be varied between 14 and 30 metres.

The name of the Small Festival Hall with its 1,495 seats and standing room for 85 is slightly deceiving. It was built as an interim arrangement in 1924 and has been changed extensively on several occasions – for instance in 1963 by the architects Hans Hofmann and Erich Engels. The entrance hall is adorned by a famous mural painting by Anton Faistauer from 1926. On the occasion of Mozart's 250th birthday in 2006 the former stables were converted into the “House for Mozart” by the architects Wilhelm Holzbauer and François Valentiny of Luxembourg.

Festival house

St. Peter's Abbey is a monument to the cultural history of the city of Salzburg – and is very alive even today! It was founded in the seventh century and has been in continual use ever since. The Benedictine abbey houses countless treasures. The courtyards, abbey church and cemetery are accessible to the public. Discover Roman tombstones and Romanesque brickworks in the abbey church; the graves of the seven wives of “Bluebeard Stumpfögger” in the cemetery; and enjoy the peace of the picturesque baroque abbey district.

The House of Nature is the perfect place to go on rainy days. Here is a home for many natural sciences – discover for instance the aquarium and the reptile zoo.

The huge variety of attractions make the House of Nature the perfect destination for families – be it only for a short time or an entire day. The House of Nature is in the process of being renovated at the moment. It will reopen for young and old explorers on June 26th 2009.