Key Information:
- What is the Salzburg Cathedral? The most significant sacred building in the city of Salzburg.
- Where is it located? Domplatz 1a, 5020 Salzburg.
- What can you see there? Baptismal font, an organ, and art.
- What are the opening hours? 8 am to 6 pm. You can find all the times here.
- How much is the admission? €5.00 per person (children and teenagers up to 18 years old enter for free).
- How much time should you plan? 30 minutes to 1 hour.
The Salzburg Cathedral stands at the heart of Salzburg. Inside, there are numerous impressive discoveries to make: the baptismal font, the mysterious crypt, the striking art installation “Vanitas,” and the reliquary containing the remains of Saints Rupert and Virgil.
Inside the Cathedral
Among the cathedral’s precious treasures is the bronze baptismal font from 1311, adorned with lions from the year 1200, where both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Mohr, the lyricist of “Silent Night, Holy Night,” were baptized.
The magnificent main organ, the cathedral doors by Schneider-Manzell, Mataré, and Manzú, as well as seven bells, are other impressive elements of the decor. The three doors symbolize Faith, Love, and Hope, with the middle door of Love being slightly larger. The seven bells bear names, from the largest, Salvator, to the smallest, Barbara.
The Crypt
The current form of the cathedral crypt was established after its reopening in 1959. Previously, there were graves similar to those in the side chapels, accessible from the church ceiling, serving as the final resting place for the Archbishops of Salzburg. During World War II, a bomb damaged the cathedral’s dome and the crypts beneath it. During cleanup efforts, foundations and remnants of earlier cathedral structures were discovered, leading to the decision to create a walkable crypt with a concrete ceiling.
The primary function of the crypt is to inter the deceased Archbishops of Salzburg, starting from the death of Archbishop Marcus Sitticus von Hohenems in 1619, who initiated the cathedral’s construction. The crypt is divided into various sections, including a chapel for worship. In the 1990s, the access to the lower church was relocated, allowing for the creation of an “Adoration Chapel” where the Holy Eucharist can be venerated.
The Salzburg Cathedral crypt is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Sundays and religious holidays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Please note that it may be closed during church services and cathedral concerts, and unexpected closures may occur for organizational or technical reasons.
Cathedral Museum
The Cathedral Museum is located in the South Oratory, extending over the southern side chapel of the cathedral. Its permanent exhibition showcases treasures from the cathedral treasury as well as artworks from the 8th to the 18th century originating from churches and monasteries of the Archdiocese of Salzburg. It is part of the “DomQuartier” museum complex, which also includes the St. Peter’s Museum, the Residenz Gallery, and the opulent rooms of the Residenz. This museum complex can be explored as part of a comprehensive DomQuartier tour. During this tour, you will traverse a variety of rooms that were once part of the Archbishop’s residence, including the “upper floors” of the cathedral, even passing by the organ.
The Architecture
The Salzburg Cathedral is an impressive example of early Baroque architecture. Its magnificent main façade is crafted from Untersberg marble and welcomes visitors. Adorning it are four monumental statues: the apostles Peter and Paul with keys and a sword, as well as the patron saints of the region, Rupert and Virgil, holding a salt barrel and a model of the church. The two coats of arms on the gable remind us of the cathedral’s builders, Markus Sittikus and Paris Lodron. The Cathedral Square with the Marian Column serves as an atrium and is the annual setting for the Salzburg Festival’s “Everyman” play and the popular Christmas market.
Cathedral History
The first cathedral, built in 767 under Bishop Virgil and consecrated in 774 in honor of Saints Peter and Rupert, was rebuilt even more splendidly after a fire in 1167 by Archbishop Conrad III. It is considered the most powerful Romanesque cathedral north of the Alps. In the crypt, remnants of these two previous structures can still be seen today.
Another fire destroyed significant parts of the cathedral in 1598. Archbishop Wolf Dietrich began the reconstruction, but it was completed under his successor, Archbishop Markus Sittikus. He commissioned architect Santino Solari to build the first early Baroque church north of the Alps. The new cathedral was consecrated in 1628 by Archbishop Paris Lodron. In 1944, a bomber damaged the dome and parts of the sanctuary. In 1959, the Salzburg Cathedral was reopened in its former glory. With approximately 900 seats, it provides space for both worshippers and visitors alike.