St. Johannes am Imberg

The St. Johannes am Imberg is a heritage-protected church located in Salzburg, Austria. It is notable for being the oldest church on the right side of Salzburg’s old town. The church’s history dates back to its first mention in a document in 1319. The name “Imberg” refers to an old name for the Kapuzinerberg mountain. The church’s architecture has Romanesque roots, with baroque features added in the 17th century. The high altar is adorned with a painting mostly dating from 1681.

There are legends surrounding the church, including one that suggests Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart regularly climbed the approximately 125 steps to the church. Dedicated to St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, the church has survived for over 700 years.

To visit the church, one can either ascend the stairs from Steingasse to Imbergstiege No. 3 or walk from Linzergasse to the Capuchin monastery and then descend a few steps. The church is a testament to the rich historical tapestry of Salzburg and continues to be a significant landmark in the city.

• A Sanctuary of Solitude and Valor: The church was historically referred to as the “Church of St. John on the Mountain,” a nod to its dedication to Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist. These patron saints symbolize the dual aspects of Christian life following the Investiture Controversy of the Middle Ages: the contemplative hermit and the active Christian warrior.
• Architectural Humility and Historical Depth: Despite its modest exterior and unassuming single-nave structure, the Imberg Church is a hidden gem of Romanesque architecture. Documented as early as 1319, it served as a monastery church for the Capuchins from 1594 to 1599. The church’s choir, with its flat roof and segmental arch termination, hints at a history that once welcomed the public through an entryway from Linzergasse 4, now concealed but still discernible beneath layers of plaster.
• Artistic and Spiritual Revival: The church’s interior underwent a significant transformation in 1772 when Andrä Langwieder painted a perspectively false dome in the nave, featuring the head of John the Baptist surrounded by angels. This was part of a Baroque revitalization initiated by Archbishop Max Gandolf von Kuenburg in 1681, which also introduced chapels and the distinctive onion dome. The last 15 years have seen extensive restoration efforts, largely credited to Johannes Neuhardt, who has painstakingly rejuvenated the church’s inner beauty since 1970.
• The Altar and Its Adornments: The high altar, erected around 1775, showcases an altarpiece depicting the baptism of Christ by John the Baptist, dating back to circa 1700 and later augmented with a representation of God the Father. Above, John the Baptist is honored, while the side sculptures on the consoles feature Saints Florian and Rosalia, and the apex statues present Saints Anthony and John Nepomuk, all crafted by Johann Georg Hinzl. The exquisite tabernacle, also from 1775, adds to the altar’s grandeur.
• A Pilgrimage Past: St. Johannes am Imberg was once a bustling pilgrimage destination, revered for housing a replica of the Madonna image from Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, known as Maria Schnee. The church would fill to the brim on the feast days of the two Saints John, celebrated on June 24th and December 27th. It also served as a spiritual hub for brotherhoods, lay religious societies, including the archbishop’s court employees’ organization, established in 1756 and named after the valiant Haiducks. This group’s brotherhood altar was located in the southern chapel’s side altar, adorned with altarpieces by Franz Nikolaus Streicher and figures for the high altar by Johann Georg Hitzl. The northern altarpiece depicts Christ’s crucifixion, flanked by Saints Francis of Assisi and Helena, while the southern one portrays Saint Joseph’s death, accompanied by the church’s patron saints.

St. Johannes am Imberg remains a cherished landmark, embodying the spiritual journey and artistic legacy of Salzburg’s Roman Catholic community. Its walls whisper tales of devotion and artistry, inviting visitors to step back in time and experience the tranquility that has graced its sacred halls for centuries.