Stift St. Peter: The oldest archabbey in the German-speaking world
St. Peter's Abbey in Salzburg, also known as the Archabbey, was founded in 696 and is considered the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world. The impressive complex includes a Romanesque basilica, a library with valuable manuscripts and the famous St. Peter's Cemetery. The abbey is still a lively center of the Benedictine order and a place of great historical and spiritual significance.
Short info:
- What is St. Peter's Abbey? the oldest existing monastery in the German-speaking world.
- Where is it located? St. Peter District 1, 5020 Salzburg
- What is there to see there? Christian buildings, St. Peter's Cemetery and the so-called catacombs
- When are the opening hours? varies by building, see description below
- How much does the entrance fee cost? Catacombs 2€, One-time free entry with the Salzburg Card.
- How much time should I plan for? about 1 hour
Generally
The Abbey of St. Peter in Salzburg is the oldest existing monastery in the German-speaking world. It was founded in the 7th century and is still a lively center for culture and history today.
The collegiate church
The first monastery church of St. Peter was built around 696 by Rupert (Hruodpert), when he revived the Romanesque monastic community that had existed since late antiquity. The current church, which essentially dates back to a building from 1125-1143 and was consecrated in 1147, also contains a mighty church tower from the 9th century, which was raised in the Romanesque style around 1400.
The main organ was installed on the rood screen in 1444 by Heinrich Traxdorf, an organ builder from Mainz. The Gothic cross-ribbed vaults in the vestibule have been preserved to this day. The church itself was redesigned in the Renaissance style, vaulted and given a slender crossing dome. The baroque onion dome was built in 1756. The main altars were designed by Martin Johann Schmidt (“Kremser-Schmidt”). Also noteworthy is the Maria-Säul altar with a Madonna from 1425. The interior of the church was redesigned in the Rococo style between 1760 and 1766, but the Romanesque structure was retained.
There are two chapels: the Wolfgang Chapel, where the Holy Sepulchre is located, and the Holy Spirit Chapel.
The St. Catherine's Chapel (attached to the southern transept of the church) was founded in 1215 by Duke Leopold VI and consecrated in 1227. The Rococo stuccoes in this chapel date from 1792 and were executed by Peter Pflauders.
The Marienkapelle, formerly known as St. Vitus Chapel, was integrated into the monastery district of St. Peter and has completely preserved its Gothic character. Nowadays the monks perform their hourly prayers here. This chapel is considered probably the oldest surviving Gothic building in the cityAbbot Johannes Staupitz († 1524), who once worked as an Augustinian in Erfurt and held an important position within Martin Luther's order, was buried in this chapel.
Music in St. Peter
Mozart and Haydn are closely connected with St. Peter. In 1769, the thirteen-year-old Mozart composed the "Dominikus Mass" for the abbot and a few years later Michael Haydn wrote the "Rupertus Mass" on behalf of the monastery. Today, the Baroque Hall in the Stiftskulinarium St. Peter and the Romanesque Hall are regularly used for concerts such as the "Mozart Dinner Concert".
opening hours: Daily 8am-8pm; No visits possible during church services!
The Petersfriedhof
The Petersfriedhof was built in late antiquity and is therefore older than the archabbey itself. It is one of the most important burial sites in Austria. Numerous gravestones and crypts around the late Gothic Margaret Chapel in the center of the complex make the Petersfriedhof so impressive. Famous personalities, artists, scholars and merchants found their final resting place here.
Here lie, for example: Archbishops of Salzburg, such as Rupert of Salzburg, Konrad III of Wittelsbach, musicians, such as Michael Haydn and Franz Xaver Gruber, artists, such as Wolfgang Hagenauer and the painter Hans Makart
Opening hours:
April-September: daily 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.;
October-March: daily 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Catacombs
The so-called catacombs are caves that were carved into the fortress mountain. They are most likely of late antique-early Christian origin and did not serve as burial sites, but as early Christian meeting places. Contrary to our expectations, you go up the steps to the catacombs, and thus have a wonderful view of the monastery and the cemetery. International visitors know the cemetery and the catacombs as well-known sets from the film "The Sound of Music".
Opening hours:
May-September: daily 10 a.m.-12.30 p.m., 1 p.m.-6 p.m.
October-April: daily 10 a.m.-12.30 p.m., 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
Closed: 1.1., 24.-26.12., 31.12.
Changes possible, see notice!
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