Steingasse

Steingasse is one of the oldest streets on the right side of the historic area of Salzburg. It runs parallel to the Salzach River at the foot of the Kapuzinerberg, enticing travelers from all over the world with its medieval splendor.

Aside from the Salzach, which served as a crucial transit route for salt – the “white gold of the mountains” – the Steingasse, which entered the city from the south, also played an essential role. It was the most trafficked road into the highlands and beyond, making it one of the most important north-south trade routes in medieval times! Nonetheless, local artists and merchants operated along this little city street. Pottery manufacturers, dyers, and tanners, in particular, the trades that required the most water, tended to congregate here. Until the Salzach’s flow was limited in 1862, almost all of the spectacular mansions here, the majority of which still survive today, had lovely rear gardens and direct access to the river.

A trip around the Steingasse is a relaxing experience, especially in the late morning when the sun gently lights the façade of the historic houses. This street now has only a few businesses. The broad Imbergstraße has replaced the small Steingasse as the primary thoroughfare. The homes along Steingasse are currently mostly utilized as residences.No. 31 Steingasse was originally home to Joseph Mohr, the famous poet of the Christmas classic “Silent Night.” At the end of the street, we encounter the “Engelwirtsbrunnen” – an amazing marble wall fountain.

The Steingasse is an excellent starting place for a hike to the summit of the Kapuzinerberg. The rather easy trek up there is rewarded with one of the most spectacular panoramic views of the city on the other side of the river. The lovely tiny church of St. Johann am Imberg, which the Mozart children regularly visited, is half way up the stairs (known as the “Kapuziner-” or “Imbergstiege”).