Mirabell Palace & Mirabell Gardens: Baroque splendor in Salzburg
Mirabell Palace and the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg are among the most beautiful baroque gardens in Austria. The magnificent gardens captivate with their symmetrical flowerbeds, artistic statues and the famous view of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. The castle itself houses magnificent rooms, including the famous Marble Hall, which is now used for weddings and concerts. A visit is a must for lovers of history, architecture and well-kept garden art.
Short info:
- What is Mirabell Palace & Mirabell Gardens? A historic castle in Salzburg, which is known for its baroque architecture and the Mirabell Gardens, a magnificent garden with many sculptures and flowerbeds.
- Where is Mirabell Palace? Mirabellplatz 4, 5020 Salzburg
- What is in Mirabell Palace today? The offices of the mayor of Salzburg and the city administration.
- Can you visit the castle? Only the Marble Hall and the Baroque Staircase,
- Can you go to the Mirabell Gardens? Yes, it is freely accessible
- When are the opening hours? Opening hours of the castle and garden can be found below in the description
- How much does the entrance fee cost? Admission to the castle and gardens is free!
Mirabell Palace
Many visitors to the Mirabell Gardens notice that the palace can also be visited. While the garden is almost bursting with tourists, we are the only ones to go into the palace during our visit. The name “Mirabell” is an Italian first name, composed of the words “mirabile” for “admirable” and “bella” for “beautiful”.
First of all, you go up the beautiful baroque staircase. The "Angel Staircase" leads directly to the Marble Hall.
The Marble Hall, once the magnificent banqueting hall of the Prince Archbishop, is today regarded as one of the “most wonderful places for weddings in the world”. Leopold Mozart and his children Wolfgang and Nannerl have already performed here. Nowadays, weddings, conferences and awards are regularly held here. The Marble Hall is also the stage for the captivating Mirabell Palace Concerts.
Mirabell Palace has an eventful history. Today it houses the offices of the mayor of Salzburg and the city administration and therefore cannot be visited.
The opening hours for Mirabell Palace and the Baroque Staircase, also known as Engelsstiege, are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Marble Hall is open on the following days: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from about 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Tuesday and Friday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that no visits are possible during special events.
The Mirabell Gardens
is a baroque pleasure garden in the middle of the city of Salzburg. There is a lot more going on here.
The Mirabell Gardens were redesigned around 1690 under Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun. Its characteristic geometric layout, typical of the Baroque period, is still visible today. The garden's orientation towards the cathedral and the fortress gives it an impressive effect and integrates it seamlessly into the historic cityscape.
The highlights of the garden:
- The castle church was consecrated to Saint John Nepomuk in 1726 and has been the church of the Old Catholics since 1921.
- The Pegasus fountain with the sculpture of the Pegasus horse is a work by Kaspar Gras from innsbruck and was installed in 1913. Around the fountain are four groups of figures, created by Ottavio Mosto in 1690. These represent the four elements: fire, air, earth and water.
- The hedge theater is located in the western part of the Mirabell Gardens and is one of the oldest hedge theatres north of the Alps. Traditional events take place here in summer.
- The dwarf garden dates back to the time of Archbishop Johann Ernst Graf Thun and originally consisted of 28 dwarves (today 17) made of white Untersberg marble. It is the oldest dwarf garden in Europe.
- The rose garden with its flowerbeds full of ornamental roses lies directly south of Mirabell Palace.
- The Orangery is now used as a palm house.
The Mirabell Gardens as a famous film set
The Mirabell Gardens are among the most famous filming locations for the movie The Sound of Music (1965). In one of the most unforgettable scenes, Maria and the children dance around the Pegasus Fountain, jump over the stone steps, and walk through the hedged walkway while singing the song. „Do-Re-Mi“ Singing. This joyful sequence showcases Salzburg at its sunniest and made the garden world-famous. Particularly striking is the moment when Maria and the children stand on the steps of the rose hill at the end of the scene and conclude the song with a harmonious finale – these very steps remain a popular photo opportunity for film fans to this day.
If you want to learn more about everything Sound of MusicIf you'd like to learn about filming locations with exciting background information, read our article: The Ultimate Sound of Music Tour
Opening hours of the garden:
The Mirabell Gardens are open daily from around 6 a.m. until dusk. Partial closures may occur in winter.
The Hedge Theater is closed during the winter months.
The Orangery is open all year round and accessible daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Dwarf Garden remains closed during the winter months.
Tip:
On the park side opposite the castle is the Theatercafe Salzburg, a very nice and shady beer garden with drinks at normal prices. From the tables you have a beautiful view of the garden. Perfect for slowing down a bit.
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| day | opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Tuesday | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Wednesday | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Thursday | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Friday | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Saturday | 08:00 – 18:00 |
| Sunday | 08:00 – 18:00 |
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