At a Glance

The Old Residenz in Salzburg—formerly the magnificent seat of Salzburg’s Prince-Archbishops—is an outstanding example of early Baroque architecture in the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town. This imposing complex comprises around 180 state rooms, impressive ceremonial and reception halls, and significant art collections. As a central component of the modern DomQuartier museum complex, the Old Residenz is not only a highlight of architectural and art history but also a symbol of the once virtually limitless temporal and spiritual power of the archbishops.

Historical Development and Architecture

The history of the Residenz dates back to the 12th century, when Archbishop Konrad I commissioned the construction of a bishop’s palace on this site around 1120. However, the Old Residence owes its current monumental appearance primarily to the urban redesigns of the Late Renaissance and Early Baroque periods:

• Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau (1587–1612): He had large sections of the medieval structures demolished and redesigned the Residence in the Italian Renaissance style, aiming to transform Salzburg into a “Rome of the North.”
• Markus Sittikus and Paris Lodron: The succeeding Prince-Archbishops continued the renovation and expansion in the Baroque style, adding wings and structurally connecting the Residence directly to Salzburg Cathedral.
• Franz Anton von Harrach (1709–1727): Under his rule, the main façade facing Residenzplatz acquired its present-day Baroque appearance, designed by architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt.

The State Rooms: Masterpieces of Baroque and Rococo

The historic rooms on the first upper floor reflect the immense wealth of Salzburg’s sovereign rulers:

• Carabiniers’ Hall (Carabinierisaal): The largest hall in the Residence served as both a guard room and a ceremonial hall. The impressive ceiling fresco by Johann Michael Rottmayr depicts allegories of the four elements and the virtues.
• Knights’ Hall (Rittersaal): A central ceremonial hall used for receptions. It was here that the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart regularly performed for the Prince-Archbishop’s court.
• Audience Chamber & Conference Room: Lavishly decorated rooms featuring fine silk wall coverings, stucco work, and Rococo interiors, where political decisions concerning the Prince-Archbishopric were made.
• Marble Hall: An elegant hall used primarily for ceremonial banquets and receptions.

The DomQuartier and the Residenzgalerie

Today, the Old Residenz forms the heart of the DomQuartier—a connected museum complex opened in 2014:

• Residenzgalerie: It houses a world-renowned collection of European paintings dating from the 16th to the 19th century. Key highlights include masterpieces of Dutch Baroque painting (including works by Rembrandt and Rubens) as well as 19th-century Austrian art.
• Tour Route: Visitors can make their way from the Residenz through the Clothmakers’ Halls, across the Cathedral Arch and the cathedral’s organ loft, and into the Cathedral Museum and the North Oratory.

Significance for Music History

The Old Residenz is closely linked to Salzburg’s musical tradition. Both Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his father, Leopold Mozart, served the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart premiered many of his early works in the Residenz’s Knights’ Hall and Conference Room, and served there as a salaried court concertmaster from 1772 onwards.

domquartier.at/residenz/

+43 662 8042 2118

Jan. – Jun., Sep. – Nov.

Admission to the State Rooms of the Old Residence is included in the all-inclusive ticket for the DomQuartier Salzburg.

As the Residenzgalerie is currently undergoing renovation and refurbishment, reduced ticket prices apply during this period of partial operation:

Ticket Prices at a Glance (Partial Operation)

• Adults (Single Ticket): €12.00 (regular price during full operation: €15.00)
• Reduced: €10.00 (for seniors, those performing military or civil service, and groups of 10 or more)
• Children & Young People (7 to 25 years / U26): €4.00 (regular price: €5.00)
• Children under 7 years: Free admission
• Family Ticket: €26.00 (for 2 adults and children up to 15 years; regular price: €32.00)

Additional Offers & Discounts

• Student Wednesday: Students can purchase a ticket on-site on Wednesdays for €4.00 (includes a soft drink at the café).
• Free Admission: Holders of the Salzburg Card or the SalzburgerLand Card receive free admission.
• Audio Guide: An informative audio guide for adults and children is available for an additional fee of €2.00.

By car

As the city center is closed to regular traffic, you cannot drive directly up to the Residenz. Use the nearby underground parking garages instead:

• Altstadtgarage (Mönchsberg Garage / A & B)
• Address: Hildmannplatz 1, 5020 Salzburg (e.g., CONTIPARK Altstadtgarage)
• Directions: Drive through the Neutor Tunnel (Sigmundstor). The entrance to the garage is located directly inside the mountain.
• Walking route: From the Toscaninihof or Hofstallgasse exits, it is just a 3- to 5-minute walk past the Festival Hall and the Cathedral directly to the Residenz.
• Tip: Have your parking ticket validated at shops or when visiting Old Town establishments to take advantage of the discounted Old Town parking rate.

By public transport

Salzburg has an excellent bus and trolleybus network that takes you right to the edge of the Old Town:

• 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 either stop, you can reach the Alte Residenz in about 3 to 5 minutes on foot via Getreidegasse or Kranzlmarkt and across Residenzplatz.
• Other nearby stops:
  • Mozartsteg / Imbergstraße (Lines 3, 8, 27): From here, it is a walk of about 5 minutes across the Mozartsteg footbridge directly to the…

Residence place.