The DomQuartier Salzburg encompasses the historical center of the political and ecclesiastical power of the Salzburg Archbishops. The residence, the cathedral, and the museum complex of St. Peter's Archdiocese form the baroque heart of Salzburg's UNESCO World Heritage.
A tour of DomQuartier offers a fascinating look at 1,300 years (!!) of royal history, art, music and architectural style.
“Located in the heart of Salzburg’s Baroque Old Town, the Cathedral Quarter, the former center of power of the rich, ostentatious prince-archbishops, their palace the Residenz and the Cathedral, one of the largest churches in the world, together with the St. Peter’s Abbey Museum, can be visited with a single admission ticket since 2014. With a single, hearty walk, which encompasses the unique collections of five different museums and includes a stunning view of the city and the interior of the Cathedral, we can travel back in time to the heyday of the prince-archbishopric."
History of the cathedral
The first cathedral, dedicated to Saint Rupert and Saint Peter, was consecrated in 774 and built by Bishop Virgil. In 1167, it was burned to the ground by the followers of Frederick Barbarossa, and rebuilt between 1181 and 1200. As a result of significant expansion and reconstruction, it became one of the largest Romanesque cathedrals of its time. The huge five-nave church was 109 m long and 48 m wide. In December 1598, a huge fire caused serious damage to it. Arch-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich accepted the plans of Italian architects and began rebuilding the cathedral in 1606. The third cathedral, still visible today, was finally completed in 1628 by the Italian Santino Solari, but the 79-meter-high towers were only built in 1652-55.
Salzburg, which escaped the horrors of the Thirty Years' War with skillful diplomacy, returned its beloved cathedral to its city in a grand ceremony. The Habsburg government also treated the building with care, but during World War II, the huge dome and the altar suffered severe bomb damage. It could only shine in its full glory again in 1959, and the years of the rededications (774 – 1628 – 1959) also preserve these significant dates.
Entrance fee to the Cathedral and its museums
(Residence Halls + Residence Gallery + Dome Terrace + North Oratory + Cathedral Organ Platform + Cathedral Museum + Art and Wonders Chamber + Long Gallery + St. Peter's Museum): Adults € 15.00 Young people (up to 25 years old) € 5.00