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A parting shot over the large fortress courtyard
and surrounding countryside before the funicular
journey back into the old town (left).
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Petersfriedhof, or St. Peter's Cemetery, is the
oldest Christian graveyard in Salzburg, dating
back to 1627. It is a worthy attraction in
itself, but many visitors come to see the place
where the Von Trapp family hid out in The Sound
of Music.
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Sheltered by the Mönchsberg and enclosed by
elegant wrought-iron fences, the cemetery
consists primarily of Baroque porticoes housing
chapels of Salzburg's old wealthy families. Many
of the aristocratic families of Salzburg lie
buried here, along with many other notable
figures.
The graves are lovingly tended by Salzburg
families, decorated with candles, fir branches,
and flowers. Pansies are the most popular flower,
because their name means "thoughts."
Crypt LIV, by the catacombs, contains the remains
of Mozart's sister, Nannerl, an exceptionally
gifted musician herself. The same crypt has the
body of Joseph Haydn's younger brother, Michael
(his head is in an urn stored in St. Peter's
Church).
The cemetery includes two notable chapels: the
Romanesque Chapel of the Holy Cross and the
15th-century St. Margaret's Chapel.
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St Peter's Abbey (Basilica) in Salzburg was
founded by Saint Rupert in 696 for the mission to
the South Alps and is thus considered one of the
oldest monasteries in the German-speaking world,
if not in fact the oldest. Until 987 the office
of bishop was joined to that of abbot: the two
were always held together by one man.
In the Middle Ages St Peter's was known for its
exceptional writing school. In the 15th century
the abbey adopted the Melk Reforms. In 1623
Archbishop Paris Graf von Lodron founded the
Benedictine University of Salzburg, which until
its dissolution in 1819 was closely connected to
the abbey.
In 1926 the endeavours of Abbot Petrus Klotz for
the establishment of a Catholic university led to
the foundation of the Benedictine college
("Kolleg St. Benedikt"), on which later the
re-foundation of the University of Salzburg was
based.
In 1927 St. Peter's Abbey was raised to the
status of an Archabbey. During the National
Socialist period the monks were expelled, but the
monastery was not dissolved. The monks returned
after the war. Since 1997 Archabbot Edmund
Wagenhofer has been head of St. Peter's.
From 1641 the abbey was a member of the Salzburg
Congregation, merged in 1930 into the present
Austrian Congregation (of which it is the
principal house) of the Benedictine
Confederation.
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As mentioned above, the Abbey Church or Basilica
of St. Peter in Salzburg was founded by St.
Rupert, who is buried inside. It is known for its
sumptuous Baroque decoration. The present
building was constructed in the Romanesque
period, then completely renovated in the 17th and
18th centuries in the Baroque style.
Here Mozart's famed Mass in C Minor premiered in
1783, with his wife, Constanze, singing the lead
soprano role. Mozart often directed orchestra and
choir here and played its organ. During
Salzburg's summer music festival in August, the
Mass in C Minor is performed here as part of a
church music concert.
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Romanesque architecture can be seen inside too,
but it is overwhelmed with the decoration in the
characteristically sumptuous Late-Baroque style
of the 1770s. The side aisles are painted in
Rococo style. Behind the Rupert altar is the
Felsengrab, where St. Rupert is believed to be
buried.
There are several art treasures in the church,
including some altar paintings by Kremser
Schmidt. The Salzburg Madonna in the left chancel
is from the early 15th century. The side chapel
by the entrance has an unusual crèche
portraying the Flight into Egypt and the Massacre
of the Innocents.
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The ceiling
of St Peter's Basilica (below).
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The gateway between the porch and nave
(left).
"After exploring the church, consider a meal at
the abbey's legendary Weinkeller Restaurant,
adjacent to the church. Founded a thousand years
ago by the abbey's monks, it serves traditional
Austrian food at reasonable prices.
"The Romanesque building still in use today was
dedicated in 1147. The interior, already
re-modelled several times, was refurbished in the
Rococo style between 1760 and 1782 under Abbot
Beda Seeauer by Franz Xaver König, Lorenz
Härmbler, Johann Högler, Benedikt
Zöpf and others."
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