Mirabell Palace is located in the historical center of Salzburg and is considered one of the most famous sights not only in the city, but also in the whole of Austria. Called a common Italian female name, it perfectly reflects its meaning – “beautiful, admirable”. Mirabell Park and Castle were appreciated not only by the governing bodies of UNESCO, which included it in the World Heritage List, but also by the famous Hollywood director Robert Wise, who shot several scenes from the acclaimed musical “The Sound of Music”here.
Brief historical background
The romantic Mirabell Palace, surrounded by picturesque gardens and the waters of the Salzach River, was built in 1606 in honor of Salome Alt, the beloved wife of Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Reitenau. Once it remained outside the city gates, but now its territory is located in the heart of Salzburg.
Now you will surely say that the appearance of this castle is no different from many other love stories. But this is not the case at all! The fact is that according to religious laws, church servants were not allowed to fall in love, marry, or even have children. However, love rarely lends itself to any rules and the luxurious Mirabell, in which 10 offspring of the archbishop grew up, is another proof of this.
At first, the palace was called Alteno, but after the death of Wolf Raitenau, who was thrown into prison for treason to the church, he changed not only the owner, but also his own name. As for the origin of the latter, there are 2 versions at once. According to one of them, the castle was named after the variety of Mirabell plums that grew in the garden in an incredible amount. But most historians are inclined to believe that we are talking about a stunning view that opens up to the slopes of the Alps.
Subsequent owners of the palace tried to change Mirabell to their own taste, giving the already beautiful structure even more luxury. Unfortunately, in 1818, all this beauty was destroyed by a large fire, which burned down most of the rooms and ancient decorative elements (including unique frescoes decorating the walls and ceiling). The fire spared only the Marble Hall and the staircase leading to it – their appearance remains the same.
In 1868, the Mirabell Palace became a city property, and in 1948-also the official residence of the mayor of Salzburg. Now it houses the mayor’s office, the magistrate’s office, and several concert halls that host congressional meetings, award ceremonies, and other special events.
As for the creator of one of Austria’s top tourist attractions, locals say the disconsolate ghost of the Archbishop of Raithenau still haunts Hohensalzburg, looking for his beloved. The latter was simply kicked out on the street, so her further fate remains unknown.
What to see on the territory of the complex?
Mirabell Park in Salzburg is famous not only for its origin, but also for many wonderful places that arouse genuine interest among tourists. We suggest you take a walk!
Marble Hall
Once this truly luxurious room served as the grand hall of the princes-archbishops and the music room of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart himself. Now the Marble Room is a world-famous registry office that accepts couples in love from all over the world and is occupied for several months in advance. Painting in the most beautiful wedding hall in Austria takes 15 minutes, after which the newlyweds go to the park for a traditional photo session. In addition, there are often wonderful Palace concerts, which are attended by all the color of the Austrian nation.
Marble staircase
Another interesting element of the palace is the grand marble staircase. One of the best creations of the sculptor Georg Raphael Donner is located in the west wing of Mirabell (Georg-Raphael-Donner-Stiege) and decorated with figures of angels.
Mirabell Park
The Baroque park surrounding the palace deserves no less attention. Built in 1960 during the reign of His Eminence Johann Ernst von Thun and overlooking the Fortress and Cathedral, it really makes an indescribable impression.
At the same time, the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg have several highlights at once:
- Fountain of Pegasus with a sculpture of a winged horse-installed in the first half of the 20th century by Kaspar Grass from Innsbruck;
- The Green Theater, hidden behind the high, cropped wings, is located on the western edge of the complex, is one of the oldest summer theaters in Central Europe, and is the venue for many folk festivals;
- Large fountain-built in 1690, surrounded by statues created by Ottavio Mosto and symbolizing the 4 natural elements;
- Garden of exotic roses-stretches along the southern facade of the castle;
- Greenhouse – at the moment it grows a variety of palm trees;
- The Gnome Garden is another pride of the Mirabell Palace in Salzburg, which has become the main personification of human vices and virtues. According to local beliefs, initially there were 28 marble figures in the park, “written off” from real midgets. However, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, who lived in the castle at the time, did not like these sculptures terribly, so most of them went under the hammer.
Practical information
The Mirabell Palace and Garden are located on the Mirabellplatz, which is the largest square in the city. You can reach it from almost any corner of Salzburg by taking the municipal bus.№120, 152, 160, 9399, 170, 260, 130, 141, 155, 131, 180, 154 or 270. The stop you need is Schloss Mirabell (Salzburg Mirabellplatz).
The park is open to the public all year round. Opening hours – from 8.00 to 16.00. Admission is absolutely free. The only exception is the Baroque Museum – in this case, you will have to pay about 5€. The Museum also operates on its own schedule:
- Monday is a day off;
- Tuesday-Saturday: from 9.00 to 17.00 (lunch break – from 12.00 to 14.00);
- Sunday-from 10.00 to 13.00.
Important! To find out more up-to-date information and get any information you need, please visit the official Mirabell Palace website: www.salzburg.info/ru/sights/top10/mirabel-palace-gardens.
Useful tips
If you decide to visit Mirabell in Salzburg, take note of some useful recommendations:
- Both the palace itself and the gardens are beautiful at any time of the year, but the best time to contemplate them is spring and summer, when everything around blooms and riots with bright colors. As for the winter, the park will be covered with snow, and most of the sculptures will be covered with a protective film, so you will hardly be able to get acquainted with all the sights of Mirabell.;
- The Mirabellplatz Park is one of the most visited places in Salzburg, so there are plenty of tourists here. If you want to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding nature and take cool pictures, come early in the morning. By the way, the quietest place is the open Green theater;
- Did you manage to get hungry during a long walk? On the street behind the garden there are several cozy cafes where you can have a snack and drink delicious coffee;
- Most tourists prefer to explore Mirabell on their own, but with a guide, everything is much more interesting;
- The most beautiful photos are taken against the background of a Large Ground floor. The main thing is to be lucky with the weather;
- If you use your own transport around the city, leave it in the underground parking lot in front of the gardens;
- From the highest point of Mirabell Park, you can enjoy a wonderful panorama of the Hohensalzburg Fortress. It is especially good at sunset;
- Walking through the park, be vigilant-there are plenty of beggars, as well as petty thieves around;
- If you are visiting Salzburg with children, be sure to take them to the playground with slides and swings located right behind the park. You can get there through a small tunnel;
- Fans of symphonic music should visit the concert in the pink marble hall. They say it has amazing acoustics.
As you can see, the Mirabell Palace is a truly unique creation, which you should not spare any time or effort to get acquainted with. Enjoy your time and bright emotions!
