“Ever wonder why Salzburg is known as the Rome of the North?”
Right here before the Wirtskapelle we’re about to uncover a hidden gem steeped in Salzburg’s rich history. The Wirtskapelle stands as a testament to Salzburg’s enduring connection to its cultural past.
Salzburg’s history stretches back to the Stone Age. However, it was during the Middle Ages and especially the Baroque era that the city truly flourished.
Salzburg, initially settled by Celts, was transformed into a Roman city named Iuvavum around 15 BC. As the Roman Empire waned, Iuvavum fell into decline. In 699 AD, Saint Rupert received the city’s ruins from the Duke of Bavaria. Rupert became the city’s bishop, establishing St Peter’s Abbey and becoming Salzburg’s patron saint.
The name Salzburg has been documented since 755 AD. Construction on the Hohensalzburg Fortress began in 1077. A dispute in 1166 between the Archbishop of Salzburg and Emperor Barbarossa resulted in a fire that devastated much of the city.
During the 14th century, about one third of Salzburg’s population died because of the plague. In 1492, the Stiegl brewery was founded. It remains one of Salzburg’s top attractions to this day. Jews were expelled from the city that same year. Social unrest and early signs of the Reformation sparked peasant riots a few years later. Salzburg was occupied during the German Peasants’ War. The fortress was besieged for three months in 1525.
The 17th and 18th centuries marked Salzburg’s golden age. Prince Archbishops Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, Markus Sittikus, and Paris Lodron used wealth from salt trade to transform Salzburg into a Baroque city. They built magnificent palaces, churches, and gardens.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg’s most famous son, was born in 1756.
After 1803, the Prince Archbishops lost power during the Napoleonic Wars. Salzburg became part of various provinces before finally joining the Austrian Empire. The city slowly recovered from French and Bavarian looting during the 19th century.
In 1816, Salzburg became part of Austria. It did not fully recover economically or culturally until the late 19th century. The city began removing old fortifications and building new districts around the train station, which was constructed in the neo-Classicist style typical of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
After World War I, the Austrian Empire dissolved. The Salzburg Festival was founded in 1920. Salzburg became a fashionable summer destination, attracting wealthy individuals and intellectuals from Vienna and Germany. However, the First Republic faced political and economic instability. In 1938, Austria became part of Nazi Germany. Book burnings occurred on Residenzplatz. Persecutions of Jews and other Nazi victims began. A synagogue was destroyed in November.
During World War II, air strikes destroyed 46 percent of the city’s buildings, especially around the train station. To this day, unexploded bombs are occasionally found in Salzburg.
After the war, Salzburg was occupied by US troops. The Marshall Plan led to a rapid recovery. The University of Salzburg was re-established in the 1960s.
In 1997, Salzburg was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site because of its unique Baroque architecture.
Today, Salzburg thrives as a city rich in culture, cuisine, and natural beauty.
As you stand before the Wirtskapelle, remember the countless stories it has witnessed, the echoes of history that resonate within its walls. It is a reminder of Salzburg’s past and a symbol of its enduring spirit.