Salzburg Cathedral
The first stone of a church in Salzburg was laid between 767 and 774 under the direction of Saint Vergilius. This early structure measured 66 metres long and 33 metres wide, standing as a Romanesque basilica for centuries. A lightning strike burned the building to the ground in 842, forcing a rebuild three years later. Archbishop Arno arranged renovations less than 70 years after the original completion. Between 1000 and 1080, Archbishop Hartwig expanded the sanctuary westward with a new choir and crypt. Konrad I added two towers from 1106 to 1147, creating an ad hoc Romanesque design that would eventually face destruction.
Prince-Bishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau ordered the demolition of the damaged medieval basilica in 1598 after several failed restoration attempts. He hired Italian architect Vincenzo Scamozzi to prepare plans for a comprehensive Baroque building. Construction did not begin until his successor Markus Sittich von Hohenems laid the cornerstone in 1614. Santino Solari designed the current cathedral by dramatically altering the original Scamozzi plan. The new sanctuary was completed in 1628, less than 15 years after construction began. At its consecration on the 24th of September 1628, twelve choirs sang a Te Deum composed by Stefano Bernardi in the marble galleries.
The Domplatz measures 101 meters long and 69 meters wide, enclosed by walls standing 81 meters high. A Maria Immaculata column dominates this square, commissioned between 1766 and 1771 by Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach. Brothers Wolfgang and Johann Baptist Hagenauer executed the work using Untersberg marble and cast iron. The central figure depicts Virgin Mary enthroned on a mountain of clouds surrounded by allegoric figures representing angels, the devil, wisdom, and the Church. The church body is made of dark grey stone with an ornamentation façade of bright Untersberg marble. Three bronze doors flank four large sculpted figures created around 1660 by Bartholomäus van Opstal.
Three bronze gates inside the portals date from 1957 and 1958, representing faith, hope, and love. Toni Schneider-Manzell created the Tor des Glaubens while Giacomo Manzù crafted the central Tor der Liebe. Ewald Mataré designed the Tor der Hoffnung on the right side. The cathedral houses seven ringing bells in total, including two bourdon bells. The largest bell named Salvator weighs 14,256 kilograms and measures 2790 millimetres in diameter. It was cast in 1961 by Robert Schwindt and Ing. Georg Sippel. Two other bells serve as clock bells, with Joseph chiming every quarter hour and Rupert marking full hours.
A single bomb crashed through the central dome over the crossing during World War II in 1944. Repairs were somewhat slow to take place after this devastating strike. Restoration work continued for fifteen years until it was finally complete by 1959. The present Salzburg Cathedral stands partially upon the foundations of the old basilica that preceded it. Foundation stones of the preceding church building can be seen today at the Domgrabungen excavation site under the cathedral. This location also features mosaics and artifacts found when the area served as the forum of the Roman city Juvavum.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptized here on the 28th of January 1756, the day after his birth. A 14th century Gothic baptismal font remains one of the few surviving relics predating the Baroque edifice. The font sits within the current structure while the rest of the interior reflects seventeenth-century design changes. Saint Rupert founded the original church in 774 on the remnants of a Roman town. The relics of Saint Rupert were transferred to this completed cathedral later in its history. The baptismal font continues to hold historical significance for visitors exploring the Archdiocese of Salzburg today.
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Common questions
When was the first stone of Salzburg Cathedral laid?
The first stone of a church in Salzburg was laid between 767 and 774 under the direction of Saint Vergilius. This early structure measured 66 metres long and 33 metres wide, standing as a Romanesque basilica for centuries.
Who ordered the demolition of the medieval basilica to build the current Salzburg Cathedral?
Prince-Bishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau ordered the demolition of the damaged medieval basilica in 1598 after several failed restoration attempts. He hired Italian architect Vincenzo Scamozzi to prepare plans for a comprehensive Baroque building before construction began in 1614.
What are the dimensions of the Domplatz square surrounding Salzburg Cathedral?
The Domplatz measures 101 meters long and 69 meters wide, enclosed by walls standing 81 meters high. A Maria Immaculata column dominates this square, commissioned between 1766 and 1771 by Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach.
How heavy is the largest bell named Salvator inside Salzburg Cathedral?
The largest bell named Salvator weighs 14,256 kilograms and measures 2790 millimetres in diameter. It was cast in 1961 by Robert Schwindt and Ing. Georg Sippel.
When did World War II damage occur to the central dome of Salzburg Cathedral?
A single bomb crashed through the central dome over the crossing during World War II in 1944. Restoration work continued for fifteen years until it was finally complete by 1959.