Mozartplatz and Statue (Mozart Square), Salzburg

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Mozartplatz is a square located very close to the river, next to Waagplatz. Here you can find the Mozart-Denkmal, a classical monument made of bronze by Ludwig von Schwanthaler. It was erected in 1842. Before that, the square was called Michaelsplatz after the Michaelskirche (Michael's Church) that is located here. The plinth is made of marble which was donated by the Bavarian king, Ludwig I.

Mozart Square is centrally situated not far from the Dom. The main feature is of course, the beautiful statue of Mozart which stands tall in the centre of the square. This was the work of Ludwig Schwanthaler and it was officially opened in 1842. Sadly a Baroque fountain had to be removed to make way for the statue. Still, today this fact seems to have been forgotten and Mozart stands in pride of place.

The New Residence houses the Salzburg Museum, where you can find a lot about the history of the city, its art and culture.

Opening hours:
Tuesday-Sunday: 9am-5pm, Thursday: 9am-8pm
In July, August and December also Monday: 9am-5pm (last entrance 30 minutes before closing)

Entrance fee:
Adults: €7
Children: €3
Free with the Salzburg Card

Archbishop Wolf Dietrich had the palace built in 1592-1602 for his guests. The building was later enlarged by Archbishop Kuenburg. In 1702 Archbishop Thun added the characteristic bell tower with 35 bells.

If you find yourself nearby at 7am, 11am or at 6pm, you can listen to the chime of the melodies by Mozart, Schubert and Haydn.

The bronze W. A. Mozart statue in the middle of the square was unveiled in the presence of Mozart’s two sons in 1842.

Visiting Mozartplatz and seeing this wonderful monument to great Mozart is a must in Salzburg.
We walked about the square and had a coffee at a coffeehouse here enjoying the views from the second floor of the coffeehouse.

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The most tourist-commercial of Salzburg's five main squares is another legacy of Wolf Dietrich, who destroyed more residences in the early 17thC. It is bounded by the Residenz and the Salzburg Museum on two sides. On the south side are several touristic establishments including an information office, several souvenir stores, a tourguide office, an American Express office and a rather expensive internet center which offers prepaid cheap phone cards but does not provide direct telephone service. Several old palaces of the wealthy also line the square.

The centerpiece is the famed Mozart memorial, with the subject draped in classic clothing and years of accumulated grime. It was debuted in 1842, scant months after the death of Mozart's wife, but with two sons present for the event. King Ludwig I of Bavaria was enamored of both Salzburg and Mozart and donated a large part of the cost to the city.

This is one of the squares where you will find that thousands of tourist flock here and you just see and hear camera's clicking away. The Monument was unveiled in the presence of Mozart's two sons in 1842, I think it must have been a very moving moment for them

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Location of the Mozart monument by Ludwig Schwanthaler.

Ludwig Schwanthaler's monument of Mozart is erected in the middle of the central Salzburg Square; the celebrated unveiling took place on the 5th September, 1842 in the presence of Mozart's sons. His widow, Constance von Nissen, didn't live to see the unveiling - she had died 6 months before, in the house at Mozart-square 8.

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The Getreidegasse near the cathedral is Salzburg’s busiest lane: one super-expensive boutique next to another show that the average tourist visiting Salzburg in a group or backpacking via “interrail” is definitely not the type of person that keeps the city going. The stores in the Getreidegasse make most of their money with the rich guests of the Salzburg Festival.

It is unclear what the name “Getreidegasse” is derived from – “Getreide” means “cereal”, but this is no option since the medieval name that was partly used up to the 19th century was “Trabegasse” ever since 1150.

It has been a major road since Roman times, when Salzburg was still known as Iuvavum. Up to the reign of Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, the Getreidegasse was the only major road across Salzburg and towards Bavaria.

Mozart, Mozart and some more Mozart