Salzburg Cathedral

The Salzburg Cathedral, also known as Salzburger Dom in German, is a beautiful Baroque cathedral that was built in the seventeenth century. It serves as the main cathedral for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg in the city of Salzburg, Austria. The cathedral is dedicated to two saints, Saint Rupert and Saint Vergilius.The church was founded by Saint Rupert in 774, on the remains of a Roman town. Following a fire, the cathedral was reconstructed in 1181.During the seventeenth century, the cathedral underwent a complete reconstruction in the Baroque style, thanks to the efforts of Prince-Bishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. As a result, the cathedral now boasts its present appearance.The baptismal font in which composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptized can still be found in Salzburg Cathedral.

The Salzburg Cathedral is situated next to Residenzplatz and Domplatz in the Altstadt, or Old Town, of the city. The Domplatz can be accessed through three open arcade arches located in the north, south, and west. The “cathedral arches” connect the cathedral to the Salzburg Residenz and St. Peter’s Abbey, creating a distinctive enclosed square that measures 101 meters in length and 69 meters in width. The walls surrounding this square reach an impressive height of 81 meters.

The Domplatz is characterized by the presence of the Maria Immaculata (Immaculate Mary) column. This column was commissioned by Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach and created by the talented brothers Wolfgang and Johann Baptist Hagenauer during the years 1766 to 1771.The Maria Immaculata is a sculpture inspired by columns in Vienna and Munich. It is made of marble and cast iron, and it portrays the Virgin Mary seated on a cloud-like mountain made of Untersberg marble, holding a globe. The central figure of Mary is surrounded on all four sides by allegorical figures that represent angels, the devil, wisdom, and the Church. The plaque on the side of the cathedral explains that the figure group depicts various reactions to the mystery of the Immaculate Conception. The angels are shown as delighted, human wisdom is portrayed as disappearing, the envious devil is depicted as growling, and the triumphant Church is shown rejoicing. From the center of the arcades at the back of Domplatz, one can observe the classicist column positioned along the central axis of the cathedral. This column features a central Marian figure surrounded by angels on the cathedral façade. It appears as though the figure is wearing a crown that is mounted on the building.

The church’s body is constructed from dark grey stone, while its ornamentation and façade are composed of bright Untersberg marble. The façade is beautifully adorned with intricate decorations, and it is elegantly framed by two towers. At the top, there is a gracefully curved gable. The north tower is home to a historic oven that was once used for baking communion bread.The facade is divided into three horizontal sections. The lower section features three tall, rounded arches or portals, which serve as entrances to three bronze doors.The portals are adorned with four grand sculpted figures that symbolize the diocesan and cathedral patrons. The figures of Saint Rupert and Saint Virgilius, created around 1660 by Bartholomäus van Opstal, depict Saint Rupert holding a salt barrel and Saint Virgilius holding a church. These figures are accompanied by Saint Peter holding keys and Saint Paul holding a sword, which were sculpted around 1697 by Bernhard Michael Mandl. It is worth noting that Mandl also crafted all the pedestals for these figures. The bases display the coats of arms belonging to Prince Archbishop Guidobald von Thun and Prince Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun.

Above the entrance, there are statues of the four evangelists—Saint Matthew, Saint Mark, Saint Luke, and Saint John—positioned along the balustrade. These statues symbolize the salvation that is conveyed through their preaching.The pediments above the three windows behind the evangelists display a lion and an ibex, which are the same animals depicted in the coats of arms above. A golden crown is positioned above the center window, perfectly aligned with the Marian column in the Domplatz.The top section tympanum displays the coats of arms of Markus Sittikus and Paris Lodron, who were the builders of the cathedral. The figure group on the pediment depicts the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor. It portrays Christ as Salvator Mundi, with Moses holding the tablets on the left and the prophet Elijah on the right.The three statues were crafted in 1660 by Tommaso di Garona, the skilled mason responsible for constructing the Residenz Fountain.

The three bronze gates located within the portals were created in 1957 and 1958. These gates symbolize the three divine virtues of faith, hope, and love. The Tor des Glaubens, also known as the gate of faith, was designed by Toni Schneider-Manzell (1911–1996). The central gate, called Tor der Liebe or the gate of love, was created by Giacomo Manzù (1908–1991). On the right side, we have the Tor der Hoffnung, which translates to the gate of hope, designed by Ewald Mataré (1887–1965).