A Palace Born from a Love Affair - Mirabell Gardens
The story of Mirabell Gardens begins with one of Salzburg's most dramatic love affairs. In the early 1600s, Prince-Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau commissioned a palace just outside the medieval city walls as a residence for his companion, Salome Alt, and their children. The estate was originally called Schloss Altenau, named in honor of Salome.
When Raitenau fell from power, his nephew and successor expelled Salome and her children from the palace and renamed it "Mirabell" - from the Italian mirabile (admirable) and bella (beautiful). Raitenau himself spent his remaining years imprisoned in Hohensalzburg Fortress. The name, and the palace, outlasted them all.
The Baroque Garden Takes Shape
The Mirabell garden's current layout dates to the late 17th century, when Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach redesigned the grounds in the baroque style. He created the characteristic geometric form that still defines the garden today: symmetrical parterres, a central fountain, and a deliberate visual axis aligned toward the Cathedral and the Fortress. Four statue groups representing the four elements were added around the central fountain, and the Dwarf Garden (Zwergerlgarten) - Europe's oldest of its kind - was established during this same period, originally 28 figures carved in white Untersberg marble.
A few decades later, Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt - the architect behind Vienna's Belvedere Palace - rebuilt the palace itself as a grand baroque complex. He created the celebrated Marble Hall and the Angel Staircase, with its white marble balustrade decorated by putti. The gardens were further refined by subsequent court gardeners, shaping what's now considered one of the most beautiful baroque gardens in Europe.
Fire and Reinvention
In the early 19th century, a devastating fire swept through Salzburg and heavily damaged the palace. Many baroque decorations were lost, though the Marble Hall and Angel Staircase survived untouched. The restoration gave the building its current neoclassical exterior.
Emperor Franz Joseph opened the gardens to the public in 1854. The city of Salzburg later purchased the palace itself. The gardens have remained publicly accessible since 1854, while the palace is only partly accessible to visitors, as much of it serves the city administration.
Sound of Music and the Garden Today
The Mirabell garden gained worldwide fame as a filming location for the 1965 movie The Sound of Music. The "Do-Re-Mi" sequence was shot around the Pegasus Fountain, the hedge arcades, and the steps of the Rose Hill. These spots remain among the most photographed locations in Salzburg.
Today, Mirabell Palace houses the offices of Salzburg’s mayor and parts of the municipal administration. The Marble Hall serves as a venue for weddings, conferences, and the renowned Salzburg Palace Concerts, continuing a musical tradition that dates back to performances by Mozart himself.
