The Old Residence in Salzburg

The prince archbishops palace at the Residence Square.

The Residence, only a short distance from the cathedral, was a seat for bishops as early as the Middle Ages. The early baroque style of its present-day appearance stems from the end of the sixteenth century. It is possible to visit the State Rooms where the archbishops of Salzburg lived and conducted their social and official functions. They are well worth seeing because of their impressive spaciousness and lavish décor. The Residence Gallery, which holds a collection of European art from the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, is also open to visitors.

The sprawling complex of buildings that comprises the Residence is located in the heart of Mozart's city and contains around 180 rooms and 3 large courtyards. It was from here that the prince archbishops of Salzburg ruled the archbishopric of Salzburg into the nineteenth century. Practically every ruler had the building redesigned to suit his particular taste; the changes with the most lasting influence were those commissioned by Prince Archbishop Dietrich von Raitenau (1587-1612).

This imposing palace in the heart of Salzburg continues to play role a role in the city's politics today. It is a magnificent venue for the reception of foreign heads of state, kings, and prominent personalities, a function which it has performed for many years. In 1867, for example, Emperor Franz Josef of Austria and his wife Elisabeth used the former court of the prince archbishops to welcome Emperor Napoleon III of France and his wife Eugénie on a state visit of several days.

The way into the Residence from the Residenzplatz square leads through a massive marble portal bearing the coats of arms of three prince archbishops, Wolf Dietrich, Paris Lodron, and Franz Anton Harrach.

The main stairs lead up to the Carabinieri Hall. This hall was built under Wolf Dietrich in around 1600 and takes its name from the bodyguard of the prince archbishop. The Carabinieri Hall functioned as a lounge and as the location for theatrical performances and parties. The adjoining State Rooms were used by the archbishops in fulfilling their social and official duties. They were remodelled under Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt at the beginning of the eighteenth century. The paintings on the ceiling are the work of Johann Michael Rottmayr and Martino Altomonte.

The archbishops would frequently invite their guests to concerts in the Knights' Hall. The young Mozart often found an audience here, for Leopold, his father, was then employed in the service of the archbishop as director of music at the cathedral. The excellent acoustics can still be appreciated today by attending one of the Salzburg Palace Concerts. The Knights' Hall was where Emperor Franz I accepted the homage and oath of fealty of the city of Salzburg on 1 May 1816, marking an important milestone in the history of Salzburg: from then on, the former archbishopric was part of Austria. Franz's fourth wife, Caroline Auguste, came to Salzburg every summer for almost thirty years from 1835 and stayed in the Residence. The Carolino Augusteum Museum in Salzburg is named after her; she was one of its most generous benefactors.

The conference and council chambers (where Mozart gave his first court concert at six years of age), the antechamber, and the Audience Hall should also be visited. Nor should visitors forget the study, the scribal privy chamber, the bedroom, the gallery (the ancestor of the modern Residence Gallery), the throne room, the White Hall, or Markus Sittikus Hall, the Green Room, and the Imperial Hall (originally Imperial Room) with its portraits of the kings and emperors of the house of Habsburg. The Imperial Hall is directly connected to the mighty late Gothic choir of the Franziskanerkirche church.

Some parts of the palace now house the Paris Lodron University of Salzburg. In the northern part, the Toskana Trakt wing is home to the University's Faculty of Law.

The New Residence can be found opposite the Old Residence.

Salzburger Residenz
Residenzplatz 1
Tel. +43 (0)662 80 42-26 90 or -27 61
Fax: +43 (0)662 80 42-29 78
residenz@salzburg.gv.at

Opening Hours
10 am to 5 pm (closed for the two weeks before Easter)

Admission Fees
Adults: EUR 7.30
Children: EUR 2.50
With Salzburg Card: free