Residence Palace (Residenz), Salzburg (must see)

At the very heart of Salzburg's baroque historic district, the Residence Palace overlooks the spacious Residenzplatz and its famous marble fountain. The palace in its present form was built at the turn of the 17th century as the home of Wolf-Dietrich, the most powerful among the city's prince-archbishops. The sumptuous chambers and halls, along with the Residenz Gallery, with its magnificent cross-section of European painters from the 16th to 19th centuries (including Rembrandt, Rubens, and Brueghel), demonstrate the power of the church in Salzburg and are now integrated into one continuous tour of the building complex. The palace courtyard has been the lovely setting for Salzburg Festival opera productions since the 1950s; a good place to discover Mozart's lesser-known treasures.

***MOZART WALKING TOUR***
It was in the state rooms of the Residenz that Wolfgang Amadeus first performed for Salzburg's Archbishop, and he often did duty in the palace in his teens. At age 14, he became the first violinist of the court orchestra, while at age 19, his violin concert KV 219 in A major was performed for the first time in the Conference Hall. The prodigy's childhood violin, as well as his concert violin, his clavichord, and the pianoforte, are on display in the Mozart Residence (Wohnhaus).

Why You Should Visit:
One of the best historical attractions near the city center – a journey back into the days of the prince-archbishops. You get an audio guide and can visit many rooms of the palace (audience rooms, ballrooms, private rooms, etc.) while also enjoying a great aerial view of the square below.

Tip:
Admission for the Residenz and the DomQuartier is included in the Salzburg Card if you buy online before visiting. The tour can take 2 to 3 hours if you listen to the complete overview.

Opening Hours:
Daily (except Tuesday): 10am–5pm