Overwhelmed by history? The Haus der Stadtgeschichte is a treasure trove of Salzburg’s past. Here, stories whisper from every document. It is a place where history lives and breathes.
The Haus der Stadtgeschichte opened its doors on October 16, 2003. It serves not only as the city archive but also as a cultural focal point. The Haus der Stadtgeschichte makes the past accessible.
Sabine Veits-Falk, the head of the city archive, leads a dedicated team. They preserve and share Salzburg’s rich heritage. The 20th-anniversary celebration drew around 800 visitors. People explored exhibits usually hidden away in storage. Visitors were captivated by images and data about the city.
The Haus der Stadtgeschichte features a reading room. Anyone can access the archive’s holdings for free here. Two computers provide access to digitized photos and documents. Headphones let you listen to full-length interviews. The Migrationsarchiv Online offers photos, documents, and interview excerpts. The “Benutzerordnung des Stadtarchivs Salzburg 2016” regulates the use of the archive.
You can subscribe to the Stadtgeschichte newsletter. It provides information on events and new publications. The Haus der Stadtgeschichte also grants rights for photos. These photos come from the archive’s collections. You can use them for publications or private use.
The Haus der Stadtgeschichte also remembers prominent women. The “Frauenspuren” project honors Marie Andeßner and Lilli Lehmann. Marie Andeßner was a world traveler. Lilli Lehmann was an opera singer. The Haus der Stadtgeschichte replaced Barbara Krafft’s outdated bronze plaque.
Salzburg’s history stretches back to the Neolithic Age. The city boasts a long and rich cultural tradition. Salzburg is the oldest city in Austria. Its history includes the oldest street tunnel and water tunnel.
In Celtic times, settlements formed around Salzburg. After the Roman invasion in 15 BC, the population moved to Iuvavum. This city became an important Roman center. Despite being destroyed multiple times, it flourished under Roman rule.
In 696, Bishop Rupert received the remains of the Roman city. He established St Peter’s Monastery and Nonnberg Convent. Salzburg became a bishop’s seat in 739. In 798, it was elevated to an archdiocese by Pope Leo III.
During the Middle Ages, Salzburg sided with the Pope. Conflicts led to the city being burned in 1168. Archbishop Eberhard II expanded Salzburg’s territory. The city thrived through salt mining and trade.
By 1328, Salzburg had its own regional laws. It became largely independent within the Holy Roman Empire. Salzburg remained the head of the Old Bavarian State Church until 1816. The Haus der Stadtgeschichte remembers the plague that struck from 1348 to 1350.
In 1481, citizens gained the right to elect their city council. However, Archbishop Leonhard von Keutschach later revoked these privileges. During the German Peasants’ War in 1525, rebels entered Salzburg. They besieged the archbishop in his fortress.
In the early 17th century, Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau reshaped Salzburg. He sought to create an ideal city. Later, disputes with Bavaria led to Bavarian occupation. Markus Sittikus became the new archbishop. Santino Solari completed the Salzburg Cathedral by 1628.
Paris von Lodron kept Salzburg neutral during the Thirty Years’ War. A gymnasium was established in 1617. In 1622, it became the University of Salzburg. The university served the Counter-Reformation.
Earlier, many citizens had embraced Protestantism. Archbishop Leopold Anton von Firmian expelled 20,000 Protestants in 1731. During Hieronymus Colloredo’s rule, Salzburg became an Enlightenment center.
In 1803, Salzburg became a secular electorate under Ferdinand III. In 1805, Austria annexed Salzburg. Then, in 1810, it became part of Bavaria. In 1816, Salzburg became part of the Austrian Empire.
In 1850, Salzburg became the capital of its own crown land. City fortifications were removed in 1860. The railway lines to Vienna and Munich were completed. After World War I, tourism increased with the Salzburg Festival.
After Austria was annexed by Nazi Germany in 1938, political opponents and Jews were arrested and deported. In 1944 and 1945, Allied air raids damaged much of the city. In May 1945, Oberst Hans Lepperdinger surrendered Salzburg to US troops.
Today, the Haus der Stadtgeschichte stands as a place of reflection. It serves as a reminder of Salzburg’s past. The Haus der Stadtgeschichte also shapes its future.