A great sense of awe strikes our visitors as they view the stately rooms at the Residenz zu Salzburg. 200 years of architectural and decorative work covering the renaissance, baroque and classical periods is on display in the form of precious frescos, paintings, ceramic fireplaces, stoves and clocks. Even back in the feudal baroque era this urban ‘palais’ was one of the most splendid representative buildings in the German speaking lands.
Feel free to stand and stare!
Welcome to the Salzburg Residenz
For hundreds of years the prince bishops used the Salzburg Residenz as a magnificent place of abode and as a means of presenting and representing their political status. Visitors requesting and audience with the regents were exposed to the rulers"demonstrations of power and arbitrary authority. The only individuals allowed into the most magnificent rooms were people the prince bishops ‘could bear to see". Thus was the rule.
Magnificent urban palace
Today the Residenz palace at the heart of the old part of the town is one of the most impressive attractions in Salzburg. The tour encompasses the sumptuously fitted rooms, beneath which is an immense hall of almost 600m², the ‘Carabinieri Saal", then the large ‘Rittersaal", the magnificent Audienzsaal, the bed chamber and private chapel, the ‘Thronsaal"and the ‘Weiße Saal".
The exquisite fixtures and fittings include a classical ceramic tile high-oven, Venetian mirrors, ceiling frescos by Johann Michael Rottmayr, crystal chandeliers of smoked Bohemian glass, high baroque stucco work with gold leaf, as well as various clocks and paintings.
Archiepiscopal splendor
Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau was a farsighted man. He transformed the city into a masterpiece of Italian Baroque architecture. The Residenz served the secular and spiritual leaders for entertainment purposes.
In the heart of Mozart´s city
Today as in earlier years, the state rooms are used by the state government on formal occasions, e.g. for official receptions, Festival receptions and similar high-caliber occasions. They also serve as an ideal setting for concerts.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played in these rooms regularly. His violin concerto, K. 219 in A minor, was first performed in the Conference Room of the Residenz on December 20, 1775.
History of the Salzburg Residenz Palace
Where Salzburg´s spiritual and secular rulers once lived and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played piano...
The Residenz, used by the princes for entertainment purposes for centuries, was built by Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau in the 16th century and is owned by the Salzburg Province today.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played for the prince regularly in the State Rooms of the Residenz.
Today, Salzburg Residenz Palace is one of the most significant buildings in Salzburg´s historic city center. Of the more than 180 rooms and halls, the 15 State Rooms on the second floor are used by the state government on formal occasions and can be rented for all kinds of elegant events.
The Residenz Gallery, an art collection in the royal tradition, is also located on the 2nd floor.