The square is dominated by the statue of Mozart by Ludwig Schwanthaler, ceremoniously unveiled on September 5, 1842 in the presence of Mozart's sons.

Prominently located in the city center of Salzburg, Mozart Square is one of the main sights related to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. After a walk through the Getreidegasse, where Mozart's Birthplace is located, you arrive at Mozart Square. This is located in the immediate vicinity of Salzburg Cathedral, the Prince Archbishop Residence and the Collegiate Church.

In 1842, the deceased Mozart was honored with a monument in Salzburg.

"Michl march, Mozart is here!" This was the local vernacular when the site for the erection of the Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart monument was being discussed. The two squares coming into consideration were the Hannibalplatz in front of Mozart's Residence (today's Makart Square) and the Michaelsplatz (today's Mozart Square), whose fountain with the Baroque statue of St. Michael had to give way to the Mozart monument.

The Bavarian King, Ludwig I, was an important promotor. He personally contributed a significant amount of money and also donated the marble pedestal, now owned by the Carolino Augusteum Museum.

Excavations for monument yielded valuable Roman finds

Originally, the monument was to have been unveiled in 1841 but a valuable Roman mosaic tile floor was discovered during excavation work:

"hic habitat [felicitas], nihil intret mali"

(Hier wohnt [das Glück], nichts Schlimmes trete ein),

which postponed the unveiling until September 1842. A copy of the Roman mosaic can still be found at the foot of the statue today.

The Antretter family & other historic houses on Mozart Square

Today the so-called "Antretter House", located on this square no 4, accommodates the Salzburg University's Institute of Music. The county chancellor and royal war councillor Johann Ernst von Antretter and his wife Maria Anna Elisabeth bought the house in September 1765.

The Antretter family was closely acquainted with the Mozart family, e.g. Cajetan, one of the Antretter's sons and the Mozarts were members of the Bölzl infantry and one of the Antretter daughters was a member of Nannerl Mozart's "scholars". The Antretter family also commissioned Mozart to compose the "Antretter Serenade" K. 185. Numerous letters and diary entries document the friendship between the two families. The attractive building, built between the 16th and 18th centuries, is well worth seeing. The "Schaffner House" on the adjacent Waagplatz is the birthplace of the poet Georg Trakl.

Mozart's widow, Constanze von Nissen, did not live to see the unveiling. She died on March 6th of the same year in the house at Mozart Square 8. A plaque was placed on the house in her memory.

Mozart Square is still a central location in the middle between the river Salzach (Mozartsteg) and Residenzplatz, where you will find inviting stores and restaurants as well as the New Residence, the tourist information office and the Salzburg Christmas Museum. The famous Café Glockenspiel is also located on Mozart Square and offers guests a direct view of the Mozart monument. In winter, you will find part of the Salzburg Christmas market with cozy punch stands on Mozart Square.

In addition to the many sights, the old town of Salzburg also offers a variety of art and culture for young and old. A perfect stop on your vacation in Austria!

Do you have any questions about the sights in Salzburg? The Panorama Tours team will be happy to help you. Our guided tours or private tours are a convenient way to discover the city of Mozart and the surrounding excursion destinations in a relaxed way. Experience Salzburg up close with our guides.