Salzburg Museum

The Salzburg Museum sits in the Neue Residenz, a grand Renaissance palace in the heart of Salzburg’s old town. The building once served as the residence of the prince-archbishops who ruled the city for centuries. In 2005 the museum moved here from earlier homes, reuniting its collections under one roof. Its roots go back to 1834, when a small display of military relics first opened to the public. After the 1848 revolutions it became the official town museum. The name changed several times, from Provincialmuseum to Museum Carolino-Augusteum before settling on Salzburg Museum. The museum holds treasures that tell the story of Salzburg and its region. Among them is the earliest known bass clarinet, crafted in the early 1800s. Visitors can also see the original manuscript of the Missa Salisburgensis à 53 voci, a grand choral work from the 17th century. Another highlight is the Hohensalzburg head, a Celtic marble sculpture from the 1st century. The museum once housed a folk culture branch in the Monatsschlössl at Hellbrunn Palace. In 2009 it was named European Museum of the Year, a mark of its recognised quality. Inside, rooms arranged over several floors display furniture from Anif Palace and the Mohr arrangement of ‘Silent Night’ from about 1820. While the main building is closed for renovation until 2026, the museum continues to present exhibitions in other Salzburg venues. A new Sattler Panorama will open in 2025 at the Orangery of Mirabell Palace. The fortress museum and toy museum remain open as branches. The city’s cultural memory stays alive even during the rebuilding.