St. Peter’s Monastery, Cemetery & Catacombs, Salzburg

by Kelly Hayes

St. Peter’s Monastery, Cemetery and Catacombs are some of the oldest and most impressive sites in Salzburg. Visiting St. Peter’s allows you to explore over 1,300 years of history that shaped the city we know today. Whether exploring the murals of the abbey, wandering the city’s oldest Christian cemetery or climbing up to the catacombs, St. Peter’s provides a unique experience and insight into Salzburg’s past. 

St. Peter's Abbey, Cemetery and Catacombs

St. Peter’s Abbey

St. Peter’s Abbey was founded at the end of the 7th century in Salzburg and is the oldest  monastery in the German-speaking world. For over 400 years it was home to the Archbishop of Salzburg and became a prestigious school during the Middle Ages. The abbey is also home to the oldest library in Austria, which has a collection of over 10,000 books, although this area is unfortunately not open to the public. 

St. Peter’s Abbey also has a connection to the musical history as both Mozart and Michael Haydn wrote pieces for the abbey/abbot. Today, visitors are able to attend a “Mozart Dinner Concert” in the halls. 

St. Peter's Cemetery graves, Salzburg.

St. Peter’s Cemetery

This historic cemetery is Salzburg’s oldest Christian cemetery and is one of the most beautiful locations in the city. Visitors today can freely wander the cemetery and explore the gravestones of some of Salzburg’s most prestigious residents, with the most famous probably being Mozart’s sister, Nannerl. Nannerl died in 1829 at the age of 78 and today visitors can pay respects at her grave which lies among those of many other notable individuals.  
 
St. Peter’s Cemetery might also look familiar to fans of The Sound of Music. This is because the cemetery inspired the one on the film that the von Trapp family hides from the Nazis in before fleeing Austria for Switzerland. While the cemetery used in the film was actually a set, the style and look of the gravestones is easily recognizable. 
Inside St. Peter's Catacombs.

St. Peter’s Catacombs

In my opinion, the catacombs are the most fascinating part of St. Peter’s. The catacombs are a series of caves built into the side of the mountain that are believed to date back to late antiquity and the Early Christian period. The catacombs can be accessed by stairs leading up from the cemetery, where visitors can climb up to both the Gertrauden Chapel, which dates back to 1178, and the Maximus Chapel, which is believed to be even older. There are over 80 steps in total, and they are quite narrow and steep, so make sure to wear proper footwear!

Inside the chapel at St. Peter's Catacombs.

Key Information for Visiting St. Peter’s Abbey, Cemetery and Catacombs

1. How do you get there?

St. Peter’s can easily be reached from the centre of Salzburg and is about a 10-minute walk from the Mozartplatz. The catacombs can be accessed from inside the cemetery (by the steps near Nannerl’s grave).

2. Is all of St. Peter’s open to the public?

The cemetery and catacombs are fully open to the public. The Abbey Church of St. Peter is also open to the public although there are no visits permitted during mass. Some parts of the abbey, including the library, are not open to the public and require special permission for visiting. 

For more information on visiting St. Peter’s, you can take a look at the Salzburg Tourism website. 

3. How much does it cost to visit St. Peter’s Abbey, Cemetery and Catacombs?

Most of St. Peter’s doesn’t cost anything to enter but the catacombs do have an entrance fee of approximately €2.00. Very worth it for the spectacular views and historic chapels you’ll see!

4. When it St. Peter’s Abbey, Cemetery and Catacombs open?

The catacombs are open from 10am to around 5 or 6pm, depending on the season. The cemetery is open daily from 6:30am to 8pm in the summer and 6:00pm in the winter. The church is open from 8am to noon and then 2:30pm to 8:00pm, although there are no visits permitted during mass. 

Always remember to check the opening times on the Salzburg tourism website before visiting.

As the cemetery is outside, I would also recommend going on a day with good weather. I got caught in a rainstorm and it was still beautiful, but I imagine it’s even more stunning in the sunshine!

6. How difficult is the climb up to the catacombs?

There are over 80 stairs up to the top of the catacombs and they are quite steep and narrow. I had proper running shoes on and I still felt it was a bit difficult and slippery in the rain. If you’re not comfortable climbing the stairs, you can also just stick to exploring the cemetery. You’ll still be able to see the tiny windows of the catacombs carved into the rock from the cemetery.

If you are comfortable with the stairs however, then I do highly recommend the climb. It’s a very cool experience unlike any other in the city.

7. What other historical sites are there to see nearby?

St. Peter’s Abbey is a neighbour to Nonnberg Abbey, which is the oldest nunnery in the German-speaking world. It’s about a 12-minute walk (uphill) to Nonnberg, or you can visit on your way down from Hohensalzburg Fortress. You’re also only a 5-minute walk to Mozart’s Birthplace, also located in Salzburg’s Old Town.

For a further list of recommendations on Salzburg sites check out 10 Historical Things to do in Salzburg, Austria

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