Salzburg Cathedral

Salzburg Cathedral is the centre of this historical Austrian city’s ecclesiastical community and one of the most beautiful historical sites in Austria. Whilst the city’s first cathedral was built there in 767 AD, Salzburg Cathedral has been built, destroyed, reconstructed and expanded numerous times and has been consecrated three times.

Salzburg Cathedral was destroyed when the city was attacked in 1167. It was subject to another fire in 1598, which precipitated a controversy when the archbishop tore down the entire church rather than trying to preserve what remained. Salzburg Cathedral’s final incarnation took shape in the 17th century, when architect Markus Sittikus was commissioned to design a new cathedral. Sittikus designed Salzburg Cathedral in a Baroque style with a majestic marble façade, crowned with green domes and flanked by towers.

The cathedral’s dome was destroyed and rebuilt when it was struck by bombing raids in 1944. The cathedral was consecrated again in 1959 and dedicated to Saint Rupert of Salzburg. His statue stands in front of Salzburg Cathedral, together with apostles Peter and Paul and Saint Virgil. Inside the ornate interior of Salzburg Cathedral, visitors can find the place where composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was baptized and where he composed music.