Salzburg Cathedral – the main religious site of the city, located in its historical center. The area of the building is more than 4,500 m, and its walls can accommodate up to 10,000 parishioners. The height of the main dome of the structure reaches 79 m. The Cathedral stands out against other buildings in Salzburg: the ancient giant stands among small churches and has a magnificent facade, as well as a copper dome that has turned green over the centuries. The front doors of the temple are located on the miniature Domplatz square. The cathedral has a rich, but at the same time complicated history, having understood which, one can fully realize how valuable this religious monument is.
Historical reference
The construction of the Salzburg Cathedral dates back to 774: at that time it was a small basilica, the consecration of which was conducted by St. Virgil. In the late 10th – early 11th centuries. Archbishop Hartwick decided to expand the cloister, and a century later two western towers were added to the building. However, in 1167, the German king Frederick Barbarossa gave the order to incinerate Salzburg, as a result of which the shrine burned to the ground. After 40 years, a new temple appeared on the site of the perished building, created already in the Romanesque architectural style. But this building was destined to stand only 4 centuries, and then burn down again.
In 1614, the construction of a new cathedral was entrusted to the Italian architect Santino Solari. As a result, the engineer managed to create a real work of architectural art, made in the Baroque style. The new Salzburg monastery turned out to be much grander and more beautiful than all previous temples. It was during that period that the monument acquired the appearance that city guests admire today. In 1628, the building was consecrated by Archbishop Paris Lodron. For a long time the cathedral was considered the main church not only in Austria, but also in the southern lands of Germany.
In 1944, during a bombing raid, a bomb hit the cathedral building, destroying the dome and the altar. But by 1959 the church was restored and re-consecrated. It was in that year that the religious object was decorated with three bronze gates with bas-reliefs symbolizing faith, hope and love. Then, plates with the main dates in the history of the temple (774, 1628 and 1959) were installed on the door grilles, marking the birth of the cathedral and its rebirth.
Today, the cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the main religious attraction of Salzburg. The interest in the construction is caused not only by its rich history, but also by the interior interiors, which are described in more detail below.
Note to the tourist: What gifts and souvenirs to bring from Austria?
Architecture and Interior
The Salzburg Cathedral is an outstanding architectural monument of the early Baroque style, a striking reflection of which was its pompous facade. The front walls of the monastery are richly decorated with sculptures: the image of Jesus Christ is located high in the center, just below are the figures of Elijah and Moses, under which there are statues of the four apostles. In the western part of the building, two identical towers rise, whose height is 81 m.
The external lattice gate of the temple is decorated with 4 large sculptures depicting Saints Virgil, Peter, Rupert and Paul, who are considered the main patrons of Salzburg. Three bronze doors lead to the cathedral itself, each of which has its own unique bas-reliefs that have become a reflection of the eternal symbols of faith, hope and love.
The interior of the cathedral in Salzburg is also made in the early Baroque style, the main features of which are elegance, bright interiors and the absence of bulky elaborate details. In the temple, first of all, the frescoes adorning the dome and arches of the building attract attention. Some of these masterpieces were made by an Italian master from Florence named Mascagni. Most frescoes display events from the Old Testament. Due to the predominance of light colors in the interior, the space inside the church looks light and airy.
In total, the cathedral has 11 altars, but the main altar, installed in the center of the hall, looks the most grandiose. His distinctive decoration was a huge picture depicting the scene of the Ascension of Christ. On both sides of it are two more smaller altars.
There are also 5 organs in the cathedral: 4 of them are absolutely identical and are located on special balconies around the main altar. But the main pride of the monastery is the fifth organ with 4 thousand trumpets, decorated with figures of musical angels. When visiting the cathedral, you should pay attention to the bronze font, made in the Romanesque style, which appeared in the church at the beginning of the 14th century. It was in her that the baptism of the famous Austrian composer Wolfgang Mozart was carried out in 1756.
In addition, the tomb of the Archbishops of Salzburg is of interest in the Cathedral of Salzburg. It is noteworthy that the museum operates on the territory of the temple, which contains valuable ancient artifacts of the 13-18 centuries. Everyone can enter the gallery through the interior of the cathedral for an additional fee. Also, visitors have the opportunity to go down to the underground crypt and look at the ruins of the basilica – the predecessor of the modern structure.
What other attractions are worth seeing in Salzburg, see this page .
Practical information
- Address: Domplatz 1a, 5020 Salzburg, Austria.
- How to get there: you can get to the object by city buses following routes No. 28, No. 160, No. 170 and No. 270. Passengers need to disembark at the Mozartsteg stop, from which you will have to walk about 450 m in a south-west direction.
- Opening hours: from May to September, you can visit the attraction daily from 08:00 to 19:00 (on Sundays and holidays from 13:00). In March, April, October and December, the cathedral closes an hour earlier (at 18:00), in November, January and February – 2 hours earlier (at 17:00).
- The cost of visiting the museum: the price of a full adult ticket is 13 €, preferential – 10 €, for people under 25 years old – 8 €, for students – 5 €. The option of tickets with limited access is available, when visitors can enter only certain sections of the museum. The entrance fee in this case for adults will be 10 €, for beneficiaries – 8 €, for people under 25 years old – 6 €, for schoolchildren – 4 €. Children under 6 years old can attend the museum for free.
- Official website: www.domquartier.at
See also: Hohensalzburg – Austrian castle with a thousand-year history .
Useful Tips
- To immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Cathedral in Salzburg, be sure to visit one of the concerts of organ music. Every week at 18:30 Mozart concerts are held in the church. Actual information on events is presented on the official website.
- At the entrance to the monastery you can get a small booklet with information about the attraction in Russian.
- Entrance to the church itself is free, however, all visitors can make a small donation.
- Be sure to go down to the underground crypt of the cathedral, where the tombs of the archbishops are located and an exposition with shadows is presented. Here you can feel a truly mystical atmosphere.
- If you would like to turn your familiarity with a sightseeing tour, then you can always book a temple tour with a professional guide. You also have the opportunity to contact the guide at the entrance to the cathedral, which for 1 € will tell you a brief history of the monastery and its many organs.
- Salzburg Cathedral can be visited with a camera, taking pictures in its walls is not prohibited.
