Quick Info:
- What is Mozartplatz? A square with a Mozart monument located in the center of Salzburg.
- Where is it located? Right in the heart of Salzburg’s old town.
- How much time should I plan? 10 minutes
Mozartplatz (Mozart Square), centrally situated in Salzburg’s historic old town and just a stone’s throw away from the Residenzplatz, Salzburg Museum, and the Salzburg Cathedral, is unmistakably characterized by a central element: the Mozart Monument.
The square has a rectangular shape and was established in the year 1588. To create this square, an entire row of buildings had to be removed. In 1604, Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau ordered the demolition of these houses to make way for the expanded Neue Residenz.
Mozartplatz: Yesterday and Today
Mozartplatz and its surrounding buildings are closely intertwined with Salzburg’s history. On the north side stands the Imhofstöckl (Mozartplatz No. 5), which now houses the tourist information center. Behind it, you’ll find a portion of the old city wall dating back to the time of Archbishop Paris Lodron. On the opposite south side stands the Neue Residenz, home to the Salzburg Museum since 2007. Spanning around 3,000 square meters of exhibition space, this museum showcases the art and cultural history of Salzburg and its surroundings.
The building at Mozartplatz 8 was once the residence of Constanze Mozart-Nissen, Mozart’s widow. On the west side, facing the cathedral, you’ll find the Salzburg Christmas Museum and the famous Café Glockenspiel. Just a few steps away, the poet Georg Trakl was born in 1887.
The History of the Mozart Monument
Although Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was not yet widely recognized in Salzburg in 1835, Polish-born writer Julius Schilling proposed the idea of erecting a monument in his honor.
Now at the heart of Mozartplatz stands the Mozart Monument created by Ludwig Schwanthaler. Originally, this statue was to be unveiled in 1841 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of W. A. Mozart’s death. However, the ceremony was delayed by a year due to the discovery of a Roman mosaic beneath the ground, which had to be carefully excavated. Finally, on September 4, 1842, the monument was ceremoniously unveiled in the presence of Mozart’s sons. Bavarian King Ludwig I played a significant role in promoting the Mozart Monument and donated the marble pedestal. Today, you can still admire a replica of the Roman mosaic at the base of the statue.