Domplatz Salzburg (Salzburg, Austria)
Domplatz Salzburg
For many centuries, Salzburg was governed by prince-archbishops who were the spiritual and worldly rulers of the city. Their influence on the city’s culture and economy knew no bounds. Explore the former center of power of the prince-archbishops, the DomQuartier Salzburg: For the first time in 200 years, the entire complex of the Residence, Cathedral, and the Benedictine Monastery of St. Peter, is accessible to the public.
Embark on a tour of discovery through the private and public spaces that served as visible testament to the prince-archbishop’s influence.
The tour takes you to the splendid state rooms of the Residence, which served as the worldly seat of power and was used for representational purposes. Fifteen ornate state rooms highlight the art and architecture from Renaissance to Baroque and Classicism. The adjacent Residence Gallery features paintings from the 16th to the 19th century. The tour then continues to the Cathedral Archway Terrace which affords beautiful views of the Baroque heart of the Old Town. After you pass the elaborately stuccoed rooms of the North Oratory, you’ll reach the organ gallery, which is without doubt the best vantage point from which to see the interior of the Dom, Salzburg’s magnificent Early-Baroque Cathedral.
The Cathedral Museum and the prince-archbishopric Cabinet of Art and Curiosities feature artifacts and art treasures spanning 1,300 years. Then you’ll reach the Long Corridor, which has been closed for 200 years and today displays religious paintings from the collection of the Archdiocese of St. Peter. Then stop at the museum of St. Peter, the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world. On view is the famous Gothic choir of the Franciscan Church, the circular walking tour ends in the magnificent Carabinieri Hall of the Residence.
The DomQuartier offers a wide variety of guided tours and also focuses on special educational Baroque experiences for children.