Kollegienkirche Salzburg: Baroque splendor in the heart of the old town
The Kollegienkirche in Salzburg is an impressive baroque building located in the middle of the old town. It was designed by the famous architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and impresses with its striking façade and light-filled interior. The church is an important part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular place for cultural events and church services.
Short info:
- What is special about the Collegiate Church? The church was built in the 17th century in the Baroque style and is considered one of the most important religious buildings of this era in Salzburg.
- Where is the Collegiate Church? Universitätsplatz 20, 5020 Salzburg
- What is there to see there? One of the largest organs in Salzburg, a very beautiful altar
- When is it open? Daily 10:00h – 18:00h
- How much time should I plan for? Max. half an hour
- How much does the entrance fee cost? Free
History and Today
Salzburg, the city of Mozartkugeln, the festival and the cathedral quarter, is also home to two magnificent baroque churches: the Kollegienkirche and the Universitätskirche. collegiate church, built between 1694 and 1707, is a masterpiece of the Baroque and one of the most famous churches in Salzburg.
The church is a listed building and belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Historic Center the city of Salzburg. The university's "white church" is Salzburg's Notre Dame.
The Collegiate Church was built by the Jesuits as part of their university. However, the church was not only a place for religious ceremonies, but also a place of education. Books and manuscripts were collected and studied in the Jesuit library, which was located directly above the church. Today, the library houses the most valuable and oldest books in the city and is open to the public.
The building
The facade of the Collegiate Church is an impressive example of Baroque architecture. The facade is decorated with columns, pilasters and statues and shows scenes from the life of Jesus. The 29m high interior of the church is just as magnificently designed as the facade. The ceilings are painted with frescoes and the altarpiece is a work of art by the painter Johann Michael Rottmayr.
The Collegiate Church Interior
Father Bernard Stuart designed the current high altar, which was implemented by Josef Anton Pfaffinger. The program of the altar is based on a saying from the Old Testament, which comes from Solomon: "Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars." In front of the pillars are allegorical figures representing music, poetry, painting and architecture, as well as the four faculties. Love and hope hover above them, driven by faith. At the height of the cornice, seven archangels are depicted.
The altar merges into the stucco figures designed by Fischer von Erlach and repeats the main motifs of the church, which it continues. On the top level of the choir, in front of a bright window in the apse, is Maria Immaculata, surrounded by sculpturally modelled clouds, numerous angels and a halo of rays - an almost unearthly apparition on a crescent moon.
Particularly noteworthy is the baroque organ in the Collegiate Church. The organ, built between 1866 and 1868, has been restored and expanded several times over the years. Today it has 34 registers, making it one of the largest organs in Salzburg.
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