Cathedral Square & Statue of the Virgin Mary
The grand Cathedral Square lies directly in front of Salzburg Cathedral, in the heart of the baroque historic district. The statue of the Virgin Mary enthroned upon the square was built out of lead and marble in the 18th century.
Archbishop Wolf Dietrich was the power behind the construction of the Cathedral Square. It is characterized by its architectural unity and exceptional beauty. Standing right on the square are the Cathedral itself, the Residenz (official residence of the prince-archbishops) and one wing of St. Peter's Monastery. This square connects to two other famous city squares, the Residenzplatz and Kapitelplatz, as well as through various arcades to the Franziskanergasse.
In this case, the statue of Immaculata, the Virgin Mary, was commissioned by Archbishop Sigismund Graf Schrattenbach. Between 1766 and 1771, brothers Wolfgang and Johann Baptist Hagenauer created the figure, a combination of sculpted marble and cast lead. This statue was clearly influenced by other statues of the Virgin Mary located in Vienna and Munich.
When viewed from the center of the arcades of the Franziskanergasse, the classicist column is positioned in the central axis of the cathedral and shows the Virgin Mary surrounded by the angels on the cathedral façade and seems to wear the crown mounted on the building.
Due to its self-contained form, Cathedral Square has proven itself as the ideal venue for performances of the famous "Jedermann" morality play by Hugo von Hofmannsthal during the Salzburg Festival. During the summer months, the stage and audience grandstand invite you to enjoy a pleasant break amid the bustling historic district. In winter, the Salzburg Christkindlmarkt is held here, while autumn treats us to a series of events including Ruperkirtag.
