Alter Markt (Old Market Square), Salzburg

Alter Markt (Old Market Square), Salzburg (must see)

Sometimes street and square names immediately reveal what once took place within them and became defining. So it is also with Salzburg's small and cozy Alter Markt, which retained its name even after the weekly market held here in the early Middle Ages has moved in the 19th century. Besides serving as a marketplace, the square was used for celebrations like the Whitsun festival and dances, the Sword Dance by the Durrnberg Miners and the annual barefoot dance by the bakers.

The Old Market is still flanked by a row of baroque burgher houses, most of which have medieval origins, as well as by the old market house, the old court pharmacy, the city's oldest coffee house (Tomaselli) and also Salzburg's smallest house at No. 10A, Alter Markt. Plenty of people walk by it without realizing – so just take a look, take a laugh, and take a picture.

As if the houses were not jewelry enough, the square is adorned by the Florianibrunnen. Replacing the original medieval draw well, this more sophisticated Baroque fountain was built in several stages. Its oldest surviving part is the ornamental metal fence created in 1583, which incorporates depictions of horseback riders, animals, plants and coats of arms – the one of Prince Archbishop Johann Jakob von Koen-Belasy, of the city of Salzburg and of the state of Salzburg. Also displaying Salzburg's coat of arms, the fountain's central pillar dates from 1687, while the large, octagonal marble basin was added circa 1685. The statue of Saint Florian, who is supposed to protect buildings from fire, tops the fountain, dating from 1734.

Tip:
Have something from the many vendors! You can try delicious local as well as other types of (inexpensive) food here.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Salzburg. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Alter Markt (Old Market Square) on Map

Sight Name: Alter Markt (Old Market Square)
Sight Location: Salzburg, Austria (See walking tours in Salzburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Salzburg, Austria

Create Your Own Walk in Salzburg

Create Your Own Walk in Salzburg

Creating your own self-guided walk in Salzburg is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Old Town Gift Shops

Old Town Gift Shops

Specialty shops make up an integral part of tourist life in Salzburg. We've compiled a list of gifts and souvenirs unique to Salzburg, that a visitor might like to purchase to reflect their visit. Located within the Old Town, the shops are all within a pleasant walk.

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Sound of Music Tour

Sound of Music Tour

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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.6 Km or 2.2 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour

Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Salzburg Introduction Walking Tour

Salzburg Introduction Walking Tour

Austria's fourth largest, Salzburg is divided into "old" and "new". The Old Town, between the Salzach River and the Mönchsberg mountain, holds nearly all the charm and most of the tourist spots. The city went down in history primarily as the hometown of great composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, whose birthplace is now a museum and one of the main local attractions. Apart...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Mozart Walking Tour

Mozart Walking Tour

Salzburg was Mozart's home for most of his brief life. He was born on Getreidegasse and baptized in the nearby Cathedral. He played his first big concert, at age 6, at the Residence Palace. He was the organist for the Cathedral, conducted the Prince-Archbishop's orchestra, and dined at (what is now called) Café Tomaselli. It was from Salzburg that he gained Europe-wide fame, touring the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles