Salzburg Cathedral

The first Christian church was built in the center of old Salzburg near the Salzach river in 774. But this church was not lucky with fire. It burnt down four times during next centuries.

After one of the fires burning down the wooden church at the site of Salzburg Cathedral, archbishop von Raitenau ordered to build a new stone one. It was later consecrated in honour of Rupert and Vergilius of Salzburg in 1628. Its high towers were completed later in 1655.

Vincenzo Scamozzi, architect of Salzburg Cathedral created a beautiful and magnificent building in baroque style. Its facade is 45 meters wide and it is built of marble. There are two symmetrical towers 81 meters high on each side.

Statues of Paul the Apostle, Peter the Apostle as well as Saint Virgilius and Saint Rupert, patrons of Salzburg, are set up in front of the entrance of Salzburg Cathedral.

Interior of Salzburg Cathedral is richly decorated in baroque style with frescos. There is a crypt of the archbishops of Salzburg in the cathedral and a museum with exhibits collected by the archbishops in the XVII century.

Among the historical and artistic values of Salzburg Cathedral there are an old crucifix of the year 1200 and the bronze baptismal font in which Mozart was baptised.