At a Glance

Salzburg Cathedral is the heart of the historic Old Town and is considered the first major monumental Early Baroque church building north of the Alps. Following the destruction of its medieval predecessors by fire, the current edifice was constructed in the 17th century under the direction of the Italian architect Santino Solari. The cathedral impresses with its magnificent façade of Untersberg marble, its imposing 71-meter-high drum dome, and its rich artistic interior. As a place where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart worked and as the backdrop for the annual performance of *Jedermann* (Everyman) at the Salzburg Festival, the cathedral plays a central role in the city’s cultural life.

An Eventful Construction History

The history of the cathedral stretches back to the Early Middle Ages:

• The First Structure (774): Built under Saint Virgil, the original structure was consecrated in 774. At the time, it was one of the largest church buildings in Northern Europe.
• The Romanesque Cathedral (1181): Following a devastating city fire in 1167, Archbishop Konrad III commissioned the construction of a massive Romanesque basilica. With five towers, it was at one time the largest cathedral in the German-speaking world.
• The Baroque Rebuilding (1614–1628): Another fire in 1598 gave Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau the pretext to radically demolish the old cathedral. The new building was ultimately realized starting in 1614 under Archbishop Markus Sittikus and his architect, Santino Solari.

In 1628, the new Baroque cathedral was ceremoniously consecrated by Archbishop Paris Lodron.

• Destruction in World War II and Reconstruction (1944–1959): In 1944, an aerial bomb destroyed the main dome and parts of the sanctuary. Following extensive restoration work, the church was consecrated for the third time in 1959. The three years of consecration (774, 1628, 1959) can still be seen today on the grilles of the entrance gates.

Architecture and Furnishings

The cathedral’s floor plan follows the Latin cross layout.

• The West Façade: The main entrance, made of light-colored Untersberg marble, is flanked by statues of the four patron saints. At the lower level stand the Apostles Peter and Paul; above them are the two patron saints of Salzburg, Rupert and Virgil.
• Entrance Gates: The three bronze gates symbolize the Christian virtues of Faith, Love, and Hope and were designed in the 20th century by renowned artists such as Giacomo Manzù.
• Dome and Interior: The light-filled interior is adorned with magnificent Baroque stucco and frescoes by Donato Mascagni depicting scenes from the Old Testament. The majestic dome rises above the crossing.
• Romanesque Baptismal Font: A special artistic treasure is the bronze baptismal font dating from 1311, featuring lion-shaped feet from the 12th century. Among others, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Joseph Mohr (lyricist of the Christmas carol *Silent Night, Holy Night*) were baptized here.

Cultural Significance

In addition to serving as the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Salzburg, the cathedral is world-renowned for its musical and cultural heritage:

• A Place Where Mozart Worked: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart served here as court organist and composer, creating many of his sacred masterpieces—including the *Coronation Mass*—specifically for this venue.
• Setting for the Salzburg Festival: Every summer, Cathedral Square serves as a spectacular open-air stage for the traditional performance of Hugo von Hofmannsthal’s play *Jedermann*.

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Notes:

Church Services: The Cathedral opens for service attendees from 06:15 Monday through Saturday, and from 08:00 on Sundays and public holidays. Sightseeing visits are not possible during Mass.

Midday Music & Events: On weekdays, the “Midday Music” organ concert often takes place from 12:00 to 12:30.

Festival Season (July/August): Short-notice closures or restricted access may occur during rehearsals and performances of *Jedermann* on Cathedral Square.

A so-called preservation fee is charged for visiting Salzburg Cathedral; this fee supports the maintenance and restoration of the historic structure:

Standard Admission Prices (Preservation Fee)

• Adults: €7.00
• Youths (14 to 18 years): €3.50
• Children (up to and including 13 years): Free admission
• Salzburg Card holders: Reduced preservation fee of €5.50 (youths 14–18 years: €2.00)
• Churchgoers & worshippers: Access for personal prayer and attendance at Holy Mass is free of charge.

Combo Tickets & Guided Tours

• Audio guide: €3.00 (in addition to the preservation fee).
• Public Cathedral tour: €12.00 for adults (€6.00 ​​for youths 14–18 years; free for children up to 13 years). The standard preservation fee is already included in this ticket.
• “Music at Midday” organ concert: €12.00 for adults (€6.00 ​​for youths 14–18 years; free for children up to 13 years). The preservation fee for the Cathedral visit is included here as well.

Tickets can be purchased directly at the ticket counters in the Cathedral foyer or in advance via the Cathedral’s online ticket shop.

By Car

Salzburg’s Old Town is largely closed to regular car traffic. It is not possible to drive directly to Domplatz (Cathedral Square).

The best parking option is the CONTIPARK “Altstadtgarage” (Mönchsberg Garage) underground car park. On the opposite side of the Salzach River, the Linzer Gasse car park is available; from there, the Cathedral is a walk of about 10 minutes via the Staatssteg or Mozartsteg footbridges.

By Public Transport

As the area surrounding the Cathedral is entirely car-free, buses offer the best way to get there.

• From Salzburg Central Station (Hauptbahnhof):
  • Take trolleybus lines 1, 3, 5, 6, or 10 towards the city center.
  • Get off at the “Rathaus” or “Ferdinand-Hanusch-Platz” stop.
  • From there, it is just a 3–5 minute walk via Getreidegasse or across Residenzplatz directly to Domplatz.
• Alternative stop:
  • You can also reach the Cathedral on foot in about 3 minutes from the “Mozartsteg” stop.