Residenz (Residence Palace), Salzburg (must see)
At the very heart of Salzburg's baroque historic district, the Residence Palace, also known as the Old Residence (Alte Residenz), overlooks Cathedral Square (Domplatz) and the spacious Residence Square (Residenzplatz) with its famous marble fountain. First mentioned in 1120, for centuries this place accommodated prince-archbishops of Salzburg who used it as a symbol of their political status.
The palace, in its present form, emerged at the turn of the 17th century as the home of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the most powerful among the city's prince-archbishops. The Wallistrakt wing of the palace, added in 1604, was the accommodation extension purpose-built for him. Throughout the 18th century, additional Baroque elements and artworks enhanced the palace's grandeur. Following the secularization of Salzburg in 1803, the property served the Austrian imperial family.
The Residence Galery (Residenzgalerie), added in 1923, houses an art collection that was gathered to replace the one lost during the Napoleonic wars. The gallery's sumptuous chambers and halls showcase a magnificent cross-section of European painters from the 16th to the 19th centuries (featuring the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens, and Brueghel).
Since the 1950s, the palace courtyard has provided a lovely setting for the Salzburg opera festival and is a good place to discover Mozart's lesser-known treasures.
It was in the state rooms of this palace that Mozart first performed for Salzburg's Archbishop. At the age of 14, he became the first violinist of the court orchestra, while at the age of 19, his violin concert (KV 219 in A major) was performed for the first time in the Conference Hall.
Tip:
Admission to the Residence Palace is included in the Salzburg Card if you buy it online before visiting. The tour can take two to three hours if you listen to the complete overview.
You can get an audio guide and visit many rooms within the palace (audience rooms, ballrooms, private rooms, etc.) while enjoying a superb aerial view of the square below.
The palace, in its present form, emerged at the turn of the 17th century as the home of Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the most powerful among the city's prince-archbishops. The Wallistrakt wing of the palace, added in 1604, was the accommodation extension purpose-built for him. Throughout the 18th century, additional Baroque elements and artworks enhanced the palace's grandeur. Following the secularization of Salzburg in 1803, the property served the Austrian imperial family.
The Residence Galery (Residenzgalerie), added in 1923, houses an art collection that was gathered to replace the one lost during the Napoleonic wars. The gallery's sumptuous chambers and halls showcase a magnificent cross-section of European painters from the 16th to the 19th centuries (featuring the likes of Rembrandt, Rubens, and Brueghel).
Since the 1950s, the palace courtyard has provided a lovely setting for the Salzburg opera festival and is a good place to discover Mozart's lesser-known treasures.
It was in the state rooms of this palace that Mozart first performed for Salzburg's Archbishop. At the age of 14, he became the first violinist of the court orchestra, while at the age of 19, his violin concert (KV 219 in A major) was performed for the first time in the Conference Hall.
Tip:
Admission to the Residence Palace is included in the Salzburg Card if you buy it online before visiting. The tour can take two to three hours if you listen to the complete overview.
You can get an audio guide and visit many rooms within the palace (audience rooms, ballrooms, private rooms, etc.) while enjoying a superb aerial view of the square below.
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 Apple 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.
Residenz (Residence Palace) on Map
Sight Name: Residenz (Residence Palace)
Sight Location: Salzburg, Austria (See walking tours in Salzburg)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
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
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
Specialty shops make up an integral part of tourist life in Salzburg. The picturesque Old Town of Salzburg boasts a delightful array of gift shops, all within a pleasant walking distance, offering a diverse range of souvenirs and local treasures. Let's take a stroll through some of the notable establishments in this historic area.
We start at Kirchtag, a quaint gift shop known for its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
We start at Kirchtag, a quaint gift shop known for its... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.9 Km or 0.6 Miles
Salzburg Introduction Walking Tour
Dubbed the "City of Mozart", the enchanting Austrian city of Salzburg has gone down in history primarily as the hometown of its greatest son, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. His birthplace on a busy shopping street called Grain Lane (Getreidegasse) is now a museum. Also popular is the Mozart Residence, a place where the 18th-century composer spent much of his early life.
Apart from Mozart,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Apart from Mozart,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.8 Km or 1.7 Miles
Sound of Music Tour
As the hometown of Mozart, Salzburg is a true mecca for music fans, with no shortage of visitors. In the past few decades, though, Salzburg's Old Town has gained international fame thanks to the Hollywood film "The Sound of Music," shot in 1965. Set on the eve of World War II, the movie follows the lead characters, the Von Trapp family and their nanny played by Julie Andrews, all... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.2 Km or 2.6 Miles
Historical Religious Buildings Walking Tour
The historic center of Salzburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, is home to numerous landmarks, including religious sites. Collectively, these historical sanctuaries, from small churches to the impressive Baroque-style Salzburg Cathedral, bear witness to the city's fascinating past and contribute a great deal of charm to its alluring present.
The local Saint Peter's Abbey is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
The local Saint Peter's Abbey is... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles
Mozart Walking Tour
Salzburg was Mozart's home throughout most of his short life. For those who wish to immerse themselves in the Mozart world, there are several locations in the city well worth exploring.
Born on Grain Street (Getreidegasse) and baptized in the nearby Cathedral, Mozart played his first big concert, at age 6, at the Residence Palace.
Later, he served as an organist for the Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles
Born on Grain Street (Getreidegasse) and baptized in the nearby Cathedral, Mozart played his first big concert, at age 6, at the Residence Palace.
Later, he served as an organist for the Cathedral,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles