Petersfriedhof (St. Peter's Cemetery) and Catacombs, Salzburg
St. Peter's Cemetary with the catacombs behind. Photo by the author.
Chapel of the Holy Cross and grave. Photos by the author.
Catacombs with small windows. Photo by the author
Murals inside the catacombs. Photo by the author
Inside the catacombs. Photos by the author
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 also enjoy seeing the place where the Von Trapp family hid out in The Sound of Music.
Merging into the Mönchsberg mountain and enclosed on three sides by elegant wrought-iron grilles, the cemetery consists of Baroque arcades containing chapels belonging to Salzburg's old patrician families. Don't miss the Romanesque Chapel of the Holy Cross and St. Margaret's Chapel, dating from the 15th century.
The cemetery and its chapels are rich in blue-blooded history, monuments to a way of life long vanished. The graveyard is far from mournful: the individual graves are tended with loving care, decorated with candles, fir branches, and flowers – especially pansies (because their name means "thoughts").
Many of the aristocratic families of Salzburg lie buried here along with many other noted persons. In Crypt XXXI is the grave of Santino Solari, architect of the cathedral; in XXXIX that of Sigmund Haffner, a patron for whom Mozart composed a symphony and named a serenade.
The final communal crypt LIV (by the catacombs) contains the body of Mozart's sister, Nannerl, an exceptionally gifted musician herself, and the torso of Joseph Haydn's younger brother, Michael (his head is in an urn stored in St. Peter's).
You can also take a self-guided tour through the early Christian catacombs in the carved in the rockface above the church cemetery. For a small admission fee, visitors can climb a steep set of stone-carved stairs and view several rooms with altars, murals, and inscriptions.
Quick Facts
| Address: | St. Peter Bezirk, Salzburg, Austria |
| Phone: | 0662/844578-0 |
| Bus: | 1 |
| Hours: | Daily dawn-dusk. |
| Cost: | Free admission to Cemetery. Catacombs 1€ adults, .60€ children |
Travel Resources
- Salzburg Hotel Reviews - unbiased reviews and ratings from fellow travelers
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- Salzburg Travel Forum - tips, advice, invaluable information
- Car Rentals in Salzburg - good deals on a large fleet from AutoEurope
- Austrian Railpass
- money-saving option on train travel from RailEurope
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of St. Peter's Cemetery and catacombs (center marker). Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Salzburg Map or Google Earth download.
Sources
- Personal visit (September 2004)
- Frommer's Austria, 11th edition.
