Schloss Mirabell and Mirabell Gardens

Schloss Mirabell (Mirabell Palace) was built in 1606 by Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich for his mistress Salome Alt. The name Mirabell is a female name from Italy and is made up of the words “mirabile” (admirable) and “bella” (beautiful).

Mirabell Palace has had an eventful history. Today, Mirabell Palace houses the offices of Salzburg's mayor and the city administration.

The Mirabell Gardens are baroque gardens in the city center surrounding the Mirabell Palace.

The Pegasus fountain with the Pegasus horse sculpture is the work of Kaspar Gras from Innsbruck and was erected in 1913. Surrounding the fountain are four groups of figures, which were made by Ottavio Mosto in 1690. They symbolize the 4 elements: fire, air, earth, and water.

The palace church was dedicated to St. John Nepomuk in 1726, and has been the church of the Old Catholics since 1921.

The Heckentheater (hedge theater) is located in the western part of the Mirabell Gardens. It is one of the oldest hedge theaters north of the Alps. In summer, among other things, traditional events take place there.

The dwarf garden dates back to the time of Archbishop Johann Ernst Count Thun. It originally contained 28 dwarfs (now 17) made of white Untersberg marble and is the oldest dwarf garden in Europe.

The rose garden with its ornamental rose beds is located directly south of Mirabell Palace. Today, the orangery serves as a palm house.

Along with the Felsenreitschule and Nonnberg Abbey, the Mirabell Gardens are one of the most important settings in the famous Hollywood film "The Sound of Music". In it, Maria and the children dance around the Pegasus fountain in front of the palace, singing the song "Do Re Mi". At the end of the scene, the Trapp family lines up on the steps in front of the Rose Hill for the song finale. The spectator is enchanted with a unique view through the Mirabell Gardens to the fortress.

Opening hours:

Mirabellgarten: open daily from around 6 am until dusk.

Heckentheater: closed during the winter months.

Orangery: open all year round, daily 9 am - 4 pm.

Dwarf Garden: closed during the winter months.