Kurgarten

The Kurgarten (or Kurpark) in Salzburg is a park-like area in the neighborhood of Neustadt (Andräviertel).To the north, it links to the well-known Mirabell Gardens.The exotic ancient trees in the English landscape garden are very well-known.

The spa gardens, which are already in the new town, are just north of Mirabell Palace and the Mirabell Gardens, which remain in the old town.The Bernhard-Paumgartner-Weg goes along the boundary to the old town on the right side.The path connects the garden’s western perimeter, Schwarzstrasse, with its eastern boundary, Rainerstrasse.A row of buildings forms the ending to the north.

The roughly 6 m high, centrally situated rose hill dominates the garden.This is the remaining core of the Mirabell bastion (Bulwark St. Vitalis), which was erected in the 17th century as part of the ancient Lodron city walls.

The name of today’s park comes from the original spa house, which opened on May 3, 1868 as the “Actien-Badehaus” in opulent style.The city of Salzburg purchased the house in 1872 and restored it so that the huge Kursaal could be inaugurated in 1873, where all of the monarchy’s important Salzburg balls were afterwards hosted.The city’s new, contemporary conference center is constructed on the site of the previous entry hall, and the Hotel Sheraton is located on the site of the Kursaal, both of which were destroyed during WWII.At the time, the spa gardens were largely used by the city’s numerous spa visitors.

The Salzburg panorama, painted by Johann Michael Sattler in collaboration with landscape artists Friedrich Loos and Johann Josef Schindler between 1826 and 1829, was previously housed in its own tiny garden pavilion in the Kurgarten.26 cosmoramas, or true-to-life art paintings from all around the world showing natural spectacles, cityscapes, architectural monuments, or exotic settings, were displayed around the enormous, circular artwork.Hubert Sattler painted these after donating his father’s panorama and 119 cosmoramas to the city of Salzburg in 1870.The panoramic building was constructed in 1875 and dismantled in 1937 due to decay.Today, the Sattler panorama and numerous cosmora photos may be seen in the Panorama Museum in the New Residence, which is located close to the Salzburg Museum.

The Kurhaus of the city of Salzburg with the indoor swimming pool (Paracelsusbad) is located close to the Kongresshaus and the Hotel Sheraton on the territory of the previous Kurhaus and the related Kurgarten.In front of the bath, Josef Thorak’s marble statue of the legendary doctor and philosopher gestures to Paracelsus.