Residenzplatz

Residenzplatz is a wide, elegant square in Salzburg’s old center (Altstadt). It was formerly known as Hauptplatz, but it is now known as the Alte Residenz (Old Residence) of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city.

The Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) to the south and the Alte Residenz to the west encircle the Residenzplatz. The Neue Residenz (New Residence), a Renaissance structure with a distinctive bell tower, is located to the east. Several old private residences (Bürgerhäuser) border the plaza to the north, including No. 2, where the Baroque painter Johann Michael Rottmayr resided while working on the ceiling frescoes in the Alte Residenz about 1690. The nearby Mozartplatz leads to the Salzburg Museum.

The Residenzplatz was created in 1587 at the request of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, who ordered the evacuation of the ancient monastic cemetery to the north of Salzburg Cathedral. The medieval cemetery’s ruins were recently unearthed beneath the square’s surface. Raitenau has had a considerable number of private residences removed in order to make room. The new public square, known at the time as Hauptplatz (Main Square), coincided with the rebuilding of Salzburg Cathedral, according to designs devised by Italian architect Vincenzo Scamozzi.

Tommaso di Garona planned and built the Residenzbrunnen in the center of the plaza between 1656 and 1661. The upper basin is topped by a Triton statue, which ejects water skyward. It is constructed from Untersberg limestone (Untersberger Marmor).It is regarded as Central Europe’s largest Baroque fountain.

Residence Square is a popular location for large sporting or musical events, such as public broadcasts of football games, live concerts, and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Residence Square hosts the St. Rupert’s Fair in September as well as a Christmas market throughout the Advent season. Fans of the Hollywood film “The Sound of Music” will recognize Residenzplatz: Maria and the children sing as they pass the Residenz Fountain during their carriage journey through the city. A portion of the ancient river-stone surface was recently found, causing the city to totally renovate the Residenzplatz.

The square hosts regular events:

• Open air cinema: The square is turned into an open-air cinema every summer in July and August. Typically, filmed Salzburg Festival concerts are aired.
• Annual kermesse (Kirtag) celebrating the feast of Saint Rupert on September 24
• Salzburg Christmas market during Advent.

Several rock concerts by Joe Cocker, Tina Turner, Neil Young, and others were staged on Residenzplatz in the 1980s and 1990s.