Hellbrunn Palace and Trick Fountains, Salzburg

The baroque castle with world famous Trick Fountains

Not long after he took office as Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, Markus Sittikus of Hohenems decided to build himself a country house. He chose the foot of the hill of Hellbrunn, the source of many streams, as the location for his retreat. Markus Sittikus, a great admirer of Italian art and culture, awarded Santino Solari, the master builder behind the cathedral, with the task of building his villa suburbana, or summer residence. He wanted Hellbrunn to equal in both size and splendour the southern models that inspired it. The new architectural treasure on the southern edge of Salzburg was completed in what was in those days a surprisingly short time. Even today, Hellbrunn and its extensive grounds are among the finest examples of Renaissance architecture north of the Alps. The famous trick fountains are unique, with no equivalent anywhere in the world.

There is no doubt as to the defining feature in the design of Hellbrunn Palace: water. The many springs of the hill of Hellbrunn are channelled into pools, streams, and ponds that add life and movement to the scene. Whether relaxing under green trees and shrubs in the tranquil grounds of the palace, or dodging the mysterious hidden fountains, Hellbrunn has enchanted visitors for nearly four hundred years. A tour of the trick fountains is sure to provide watery fun for young and old alike!

The appeal of Hellbrunn is due not least to the fact that today's visitors can enjoy almost unchanged the same endearing features that once entertained the archbishops - strange and mysterious grottoes, water-driven moving figures, and mischievous water jets in every nook and cranny. The aristocratic guests were presented with a constantly changing display of light and shade, of fear and merriment - the imagination of the artists and architects knew no limits. In practice, the owners of Hellbrunn rarely used it as a residence; since its completion, the ornate halls, enchanting gardens, and entertaining trick fountains made it ideal for lavish parties and celebrations. Hellbrunn Palace was where art and culture came together for lively festivals, lavish spectacles, dance, theatre, and parties of all kinds.

In around 1730, the extensive gardens were updated to reflect contemporary taste when they were redesigned by Head Gardener Franz Anton Danreiter. The statues of gods and heroes that can now be seen in the gardens originate in this period.

As well as commissioning the castle, Markus Sittikus had the Hellbrunn quarry adapted to suit his needs. The product was a stage that is now known as the stone theatre (Steintheater). It is the oldest open-air stage in Europe. Although plays were frequently performed on the 'organic stage' during the time of the archbishops, it is rarely used for this purpose today. Even so, the stage carved into the rock is still well worth seeing, and children love to play there and clamber around its winding passages.

The hill of Hellbrunn is also the site of the Monatsschlösschen. This is really a nickname (meaning 'Month's Lodge') alluding to the remarkably short time needed to build it; its real name is Waldems. It was built in no more than a couple of months for Archbishop Markus Sittikus in 1615. It is said that his motives for building the lodge were somewhat more worldly than befitted his status as a holder of high office in the Church. The story goes that the bishop had the lodge, which has a beautiful view of the gardens, built for his beloved. Today, the lodge houses the folklore section of Salzburg's Carolino Augusteum Museum. The customs of Salzburg are the focus of the exhibition; as well as attractive traditional costumes from Salzburg, exhibits on customs and popular piety can be admired. The interesting exhibition is rounded off with displays detailing trends in furniture style, folk medicine, and everyday life.

Now as in the past, visitors are drawn to Hellbrunn by the magnificent combination of the palace itself and its surroundings with orangery, stone theatre, trick fountains, gardens, and Monatsschlösschen. As well as welcoming tourists and visitors to the city, Hellbrunn is a classy venue for social functions. Seminars, conferences, Christmas markets, festivals, weddings, and receptions all take place within the statuesque walls of the palace. And today's visitors are no less impressed than the guests invited by Markus Sittikus to take part in day trips, hunts, and lively receptions at Hellbrunn.

Schloss Hellbrunn, Wasserspiele
Fürstenweg 37
Tel.: +43 (0)662 82 03 72 0
Fax: +43 (0)662 82 03 72 49 31
schloss.hellbrunn@stadt-salzburg.at

Opening Hours
April and October: 9 am to 4.30 pm
May, June, and September: 9 am to 5.30 pm
July and August: 9 am to 6 pm; evening tours (trick fountains only): 7, 8, 9, and 10 pm
September: 9 am to 5.30 pm

Admission Fees
Adults: EUR 7.50
Children (from 4 years of age): EUR 3.50
With Salzburg Card: free