Residenzplatz

Residenzplatz is a large, stately square in the historic centre of Salzburg in Austria. Named after the Residenz building of the Prince-Archbishops of Salzburg, adjacent to Salzburg Cathedral, it is one of the city's most popular places to visit.

The Residenzplatz is located in the historic centre ('Altstadt') of Salzburg, enclosed by Salzburg Cathedral (Salzburger Dom) in the south and the Alte Residenz in the west. To the east is the Neue Residenz ("New Residence"), a Renaissance building erected from 1588 onwards, with its prominent bell tower. The adjacent Mozartplatz leads to Salzburg Museum.

Several historic private houses ('Bürgerhäuser') frame the square to the north, among them the temporary home of the Baroque painter Johann Michael Rottmayr at No. 2, where he stayed while creating the ceiling frescoes in the Alte Residenz around 1690.

The Residenzplatz was laid out from 1587 onwards at the behest of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich Raitenau, after he ordered to abandon the cemetery of the former monastery north of Salzburg Cathedral. Remnants of the medieval cemetery were recently discovered underneath the square's surface. Raitenau also had a large number of private houses demolished to provide space. Then called Hauptplatz ("Main Square"), the new public plaza corresponded with the reconstruction of Salzburg Cathedral, according to plans laid out by the Italian architect Vincenzo Scamozzi.

Currently, the square is about to be refurbished, including a new paving and a monument commemorating a Nazi book burning conducted at the site on 30 April 1938.

The Residenzbrunnen in the centre of the square was designed by Tommaso di Garona and erected between 1656 to 1661. The upper basin is topped by a Triton statue ejecting the waters upwards. Made of Untersberg limestone (Untersberger Marmor), it is considered the largest Baroque fountain in Central Europe.

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