Salzburg Cathedral (Dom St. Rupert)
View of Salzburg Cathedral from Hohensalzburg Fortress.
View of the south side of Salzburg Cathedral. Photo
Martin Hapl.
Outdoor cafe next to the cathedral; the grand marble facade.
Interior of Salzburg Dom. Photo
Miles Berry.
Beautifully painted Baroque cupolas. Photo
Marcus Trimble.
Detail of the Holy Spirit as a dove in the central dome.
Mozart's organ (left) and baptismal font (right).
The interesting crypt of Salzburg Cathedral.
Located where Residenzplatz flows into Domplatz in Salzburg, Salzburg Cathedral (Domkirche St. Rupert) is renowned for its harmonious Baroque architecture and 4,000-pipe organ. It also contains a medieval font in which Mozart was baptized.
History
This site has hosted a Christian church since 774. The original was replaced with a late-Romanesque structure built in 1181-1200.
The Romanesque cathedral burned down in 1598 and Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich took advantage of (some would say caused) the destruction to demolish the rest and make plans for a grand new cathedral to reaffirm Salzburg's commitment to the Catholic cause in the face of the Reformation.
However, Dietrich's overthrow prevented the completion of this project. The present cathedral was commissioned by Archbishop Markus Sittikus Count Hohenems and designed by the Italian architect Santino Solari. It was consecrated in 1628 by Archbishop Paris Count Lodron.
What to See
The cathedral's plaza is a complete aesthetic concept and one of Salzburg's most beautiful urban set pieces. In the center rises the Virgin's Column with a 1771 statue of the Virgin Mary.
Considered by some to be the most perfect Renaissance building in the German-speaking countries, Salzburg Cathedral has a marble facade, twin west towers topped with green domes and a large green-roofed dome over the crossing. The bronze doors (1959) and illustrate the themes of Faith, Hope, and Love.
The church's simple sepia-and-white interior, a peaceful contrast to the usual Baroque excesses, dates from a later renovation. It is decorated with elaborate Baroque murals, some of which were designed (along with the altarpieces) by Mascagni of Florence. The dome was damaged during World War II but was restored by 1959.
Near the entrance, look for the Romanesque font at which Mozart was baptized. The great composer later served as organist here from 1779 to 1781. Some of his compositions, such as the Coronation Mass, were written for the cathedral, and many were performed here for the first time. The font is made of bronze and decorated with reliefs of saints.
In the modern crypt, traces of the old Romanesque cathedral that once stood on this spot have been unearthed. The cathedral excavations are entered around the corner (left of the Dom entrance). This exhibition of excavation work shows ruins of the original foundation.
The cathedral's treasures and the "arts and wonders" the archbishops collected in the 17th century, are displayed in the Dom Museum (tel. 0662/84-41-89), entered through the cathedral.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Salzburg Cathedral; Salzburg Dom; Dom St. Rupert |
| Type of site: | Cathedral |
| Faith: | Roman Catholic |
| Date: | Completed 1628 |
| Status: | Active |
| Location: | South side of Residenzplatz, Salzburg, Austria |
| Phone: | 0662/84-41-89 |
| Bus: | 1, 3, or 5 |
| Hours: | Cathedral daily 8am-7pm (to 6pm in winter); excavations Easter to mid-Oct Wed-Sun 9am-5pm (closed mid-Oct to Easter); museum Wed-Sun 9am-5pm, Sun 1-6pm. |
| Cost: | Free admission to cathedral; excavations 1.80€ adults, .70€ children 6-15, free for children 5 and under; museum 4.50€ adults, 1.50€ children |
Sources
- Personal visit (September 2004).
- Frommer's Austria
More Information
- Salzburg's Cathedral – Salzburg.info
- Salzburg Cathedral (Dom) – TripAdvisor reviews and articles
Travel Resources
- Salzburg Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews and ratings from fellow travelers
- Salzburg Hostels & Guesthouses - budget lodging with no booking fees
- Salzburg Travel Forum - tips, advice, invaluable information
- Car Rentals in Salzburg - good deals on a large fleet from AutoEurope
- Austrian Railpass
- money-saving option on train travel from RailEurope
Location Map
Location map and satellite view of Salzburg Cathedral. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. or a larger view, see our Salzburg Map or Google Earth download.
