Together, we walk in the footsteps of famed Prince-Archbishops: We explore the personalities that shaped Salzburg, such as Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the father of Baroque Salzburg, and Hieronymus von Colloredo who, in the spirit of the Enlightenment, initiated the extensive changes that Salzburg experienced during the "long nineteenth century".
With the end of the Prince-Archbishopric of Salzburg and the loss of political independence, Salzburg suffered an economic decline. From an art history perspective, however, it was precisely these particular circumstances that made Salzburg into a Mecca for Romantic era artists from all over Europe.
The now-slumbering city combined the charm of its great past with a melancholy, transfigured atmosphere, nestled against the rugged cliffs of the Mönchsberg. This fairy-tale vision matched the emotional spirit of both, the late Romantic period and the Biedermeier period with its bourgeois ideals.
Salzburg also boasts a rich musical history, from the medieval "Monk of Salzburg" and the culture of Baroque music, to the city"s famous son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The Salzburg Festival was established in 1920. To this day, it is the largest festival of classical music in the world.
Alongside the usual highlights, we will also explore some hidden and lesser-known aspects. Funny anecdotes and stories bring the walk to life; there is even plenty of literary history is discover.
The Panorama Museum, with its famous Salzburg panorama painting by Johann Michael Sattler, features an impressive view from the fortress over the city of Salzburg and its surrounding areas. The originator of this topographical masterpiece was actually Emperor Franz I, who wished to view Salzburg "depicted as a panorama along with its romantic surroundings".
A casual, relaxed refreshment break marks the end of the tour and includes a pleasant discussion to share our experiences and commit them to memory.
Optionally, this tour could also focus on a visit to the Alte Residenz and the DomQuartier museum.
A viewing of the staterooms and DomQuartier, as well as a guided tour of the current exhibitions, can also be arranged on request. From 23rd February to 3rd October 2022, the DomQuartier is holding an exhibition of a selection of works from its top-class in-house collection.
A primary focus of this exhibition is the extensive collection of first-class Austrian paintings from the 19th century. Among the works on display are Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller"s "Children at the Window", views of Salzburg by Friedrich Loos and Johann Fischbach, along with masterpieces by "painter-prince" Hans Makart, who first came into the world here in the Alte Residenz.
Thursday, 27th January to Monday 31.st of October 2022
An Exhibition to mark the 400th Anniversary 0f the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg.
A visit to the Alte Residenz, including the state rooms, and the DomQuartier can also be arranged on request, as well as a guided tour of the exhibition.
The private chapel of Prince-Archbishop Friedrich, Prince of Schwarzenberg, which has only been open to the public since 2021, is an exquisite piece of art history. The restoration of this neo-Gothic art work, commissioned by the Austrian Federal Monuments Office, is one of the earliest examples of Austrian historicism
Highlights of the Romantic tour
Getreidegasse and its passageways
Salzburg"s Getreidegasse is the city"s iconic shopping location. The hustle and bustle of the shopping world can be felt here all year round.
With its tall, narrow rows of buildings and elaborate, intricate shop signs, the unique charm of this historic street never fails to delight. Happily, long-standing craft and commercial enterprises have been able to keep their workshops and workplaces here over the years. Even today, there are still umbrella makers, leatherworkers, tailors, liquor distillers, button-makers, bagmakers, beltmakers, metalworkers and carpet weavers in operation here.
The Mozartkugeln are not the only "Salzburg speciality" – the Durchhäuser (passageways) were also designed here. Until the mid-16th century, the Frauengarten was situated between Getreidegasse and the Mönchsberg. The women of the St. Peter"s women"s convent used this garden to grow vegetables, herbs and medicinal plants. Due to the expansion of the city to the Prince-Archbishop"s residence, more space was required for housing. The archbishops permitted the construction of a second row of houses on the land of the Frauengarten, until the latter had disappeared entirely. As a result, these buildings could only be reached via public passages – so-called Durchhäuser – which led through the private town houses. Each passageway has its own unique charm – no two are alike.
From Mozartplatz through Waagplatz to Judengasse
Mozartplatz was previously called Michaelsplatz, after St. Michael"s Church. The square and the church were of great importance in Salzburg during the Middle Ages. The Porta (main entrance) of the city was located in this area. It is also believed that there was a palace where the Holy Roman Emperors held court meetings. Here you can also find traces of the Roman city of Juvavum.
Poet Georg Trakl was born on Waagplatz and spent his youth there. His poems contain a number of references to his beloved hometown.
It is said that Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau met his Salome for the first time in the tavern on Waagplatz and fell hopelessly in love with her.
Traces of Jewish Salzburg can be found, as the name suggests, in the Judengasse.
Salzburg Cathedral
This Gesamtkunstwerk of the early Baroque period, with its imposing façade made of “Untersberger trout marble", never fails to impress visitors. The façade was sculpted in accordance with the specifications of the Council of Trent (1545–1563) and illustrates the teachings and themes of the Catholic Church as a kind of "constructed profession of faith".
The cathedral"s three bronze doors are dedicated to the three divine virtues of "faith", "love" and "hope". They are expressionist masterpieces. Ewald Mataré"s captivating work, in particular, presents a poetic floral realisation of its theme, featuring the creative hand of God accompanied by exultant choirs of angels as a symbol of hope for mankind. Representations of the "Annunciation of Mary", "the birth of Jesus" and "the hopeful upward gaze of the shepherds to the heavenly Father" nestle peacefully in a sea of green and white flowers.
A visit to Salzburg Cathedral is delightful and highly recommended. Its artistic decoration is an expression to the faithful of the spirit of the Counter-Reformation and the message of the Council of Trent. The cathedral is adorned with white stucco from the workshop of Giuseppe Bassarino, with black-painted indentations and undercuts and featuring tendrils, putti and acanthus leaves.
The design of the cathedral"s façade is continued in the Quadri riportati by Arsenio Mascagni (1579–1636), which depicts scenes from the life and works of Jesus Christ. In the spirit of a "via sacra", these images reach a climax at the main altar with the "Resurrection of Christ".
The "Maria Schnee" altar features surprising references to the basilica Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. The altars in the side chapels, which are significant in terms of art history, house valuable altarpieces including an "Anna Selbdritt"-style painting by Joachim von Sandrart (1656). The depiction of the "Baptism of Christ" by Frans de Neve (1674) is also a wonderful piece of art history.
In the lower church, remaining traces of the Romanesque cathedral hint at its impressive size and high-quality artistic decoration. In his installation "Vanitas" in the cathedral"s Romanesque crypt, French artist Christian Boltanski (1944-2021) presents a contemporary realisation of a poetic dance of death.
The midday concert at Salzburg Cathedral, featuring multiple Baroque organs, is a truly unique listening experience.
Kollegienkirche (university church)
The Kollegienkirche is one of the primary works of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, a great master builder of the Baroque period. Commissioned by Prince-Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun, Fischer von Erlach left a lasting mark on Salzburg"s cityscape through a number of monumental sacred buildings.
The church"s magnificent façade stands out as one of the master builder"s great Salzburg masterpieces. The elegant, concave central wing-pavilion jutting out into the square and the building"s colossal scale stand in contrast to the delicate window frames and the towers, which are topped with slender figure-bearing balustrades rather than spires. The statue of the Immaculata on a delicate diadem arch crowns the sacred building. In this work, Fischer von Erlach created a new type of Baroque church with a unique touch (Eltz-Hoffmann).
The all-white interior creates a grand, solemn appearance. Its extraordinarily bold, yet harmonious, proportions make a strong impression. The stucco centrepiece, featuring banks of clouds and angels, showcases the figure of the Immaculata in an unearthly realm. The light streaming in from the large window makes the transfiguration of the Blessed Mother perfect.
The Kollegienkirche has had an eventful history. Napoleon"s troops even used it as a hay store. In 1922, the world premiere of Hugo von Hofmannsthal"s "Great Theatre of the World" took place here. As Salzburg"s "art church", it is a venue for the Salzburg Festival and hosts shows by contemporary artists.
Walk of Modern Art
It is not only the lavish remnants of days gone by that make Salzburg so captivating.
The city is also characterised by contemporary artworks.
The Walk of Modern Art, which evolved on the city"s spectacular plazas between 2002 and 2011, is unique in the world. Its works, located in the heart of the city, are freely accessible and easy to walk around.
The Romantic tour still contains a few surprises that are not even common knowledge among some of the locals.
Get ready to be amazed and inspired!