Schlosskirche Mirabell

Mirabellplatz
5020 Salzburg

Tel. +43662 885754

eMail Website

Information

Events

What's on

Salzach galleries Salzburger Dult Gaisberg race Events Calender

Churches and chapels in palaces were not only used by the archbishops as a place of worship. The royal household and the prince's entourage also gathered in the chapel to celebrate mass and worship. Appropriate to their lifestyle, the archbishops even installed chapels in their pleasure palaces, of which the magnificent Mirabell Palace Chapel is the most striking example in Salzburg.

History of the building
Not much of the original palace chapel in Mirabell Palace built under the auspices of Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau is preserved. Archbishop Franz Anton von Harrach had Mirabell Palace completely remodeled from 1721 to 1727. The new palace chapel was designed by the architect Lukas von Hildebrandt. The ceiling fresco is the work of Bartolomeo Altomonte. The chapel was consecrated to St. John of Nepomuk on May 12, 1726. The chapel was reconstructed following the great city fire in 1818 and renovated in 1952 and 1988. The palace chapel has been used by the Old Catholics since 1938.

Architecture and interior
The colors white and gold lend a festive character and solemnity to the high sanctuary. The interior walls are entirely covered with marble stucco. Despite the elaborate décor, the Mirabell Palace Chapel has a noble and unobtrusive, feudal and esthetic ambiance. The magnificent high altar dating from 1722 is made of grey and pink marble and reaches all the way up to the cupola. The altar painting depicts angels carrying St. John of Nepomuk up to heaven. The large statues of Saints Augustine, Rupert, Virgil and Martin in front of the columns are especially impressive.

back