Petersfriedhof

Salzburg, Austria

The Petersfriedhof or St. Peter's Cemetery is - together with the burial site at Nonnberg Abbey - the oldest cemetery in Salzburg. It is one of Salzburg's most popular tourist attractions. Its origins date back to about 700, when the adjacent St. Peter's Abbey was established by Saint Rupert of Salzburg. The abbey's cemetery, probably at the site of an even earlier burial place, was first mentioned in an 1139 deed, the oldest tombstone dates to 1288. Closed in 1878, the site decayed until in 1930 the monks of St. Peter's successfully urged for the admission of new burials.

Carved into the rock of the Festungsberg there are catacombs that may stem from the Early Christian days of Severinus of Noricum during the Migration Period. They include two chapels: The Maximuskapelle and the Gertraudenkapelle, consecrated in 1178 under the Salzburg Archbishop Conrad of Wittelsbach and dedicated to the assassinated Archbishop Thomas Becket of Canterbury.

A second chapel, The Margarethenkapelle, (re-)built in 1491, occupies a cite in the center of the cemetery.

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Details

Founded: 700 AD
Category: Cemeteries, mausoleums and burial places in Austria

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

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4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Abby U (2 years ago)
The most beautiful cemetery I have ever seen. The catacombs were really cool to see as well, the entrance is in the cemetery.
Cláudio Cardona (2 years ago)
Ah, Petersfriedhof, or St. Peter's Cemetery, if you prefer the Anglicised nomenclature. Nestled beside the venerable St. Peter's Abbey, this hallowed ground is one of Salzburg's oldest and most captivating cemeteries. Reaching this repository of souls is fairly straightforward—easily accessible by a leisurely walk from the city centre or via public transport, whichever suits your temperament. Now, let's delve into the past, shall we? Originating in about 1627, the cemetery is steeped in history. You'll find an assemblage of ornate tombstones and chapels that appear to have leapt out of an 18th-century Gothic novel, bearing witness to a gamut of Salzburg's citizenry, from venerable archbishops to humble artisans. The place exudes an air of antiquity that even the passage of time seems to respect. As for myths or amusing tales, there's a peculiar one involving a certain set of catacombs. Ah yes, these aren't your typical underground chambers; they're practically hewn out of the adjacent Mönchsberg mountain! Local yarn has it that they were dug out by early Christians evading persecution, although that's more hearsay than written history. In summation, Petersfriedhof offers not just a stroll through an open-air museum of Salzburg's illustrious and ordinary dead, but it also grants a peek into the city's culture and folklore. It's an indispensable stop for any history aficionado or, indeed, anyone with an afternoon to spare and a penchant for the extraordinary.
Anthony M (2 years ago)
Definitely the most beautiful and interesting part of the entire abbey! Believe me that it's not just about the tombs, that actually only those are wonderful, but the place itself is fantastic, also because you can also see some interesting glimpses of the city's monuments! It is completely free of charge
Bogdan Marcelan (2 years ago)
The cemetery of St. Peter's Abbey in Salzburg is among the most beautiful and oldest cemeteries in the world. Cemetery of St. Petra, next to the cemetery in the Nonnberg Abbey, is the oldest Christian burial ground in Salzburg. There are catacombs carved into the wall of the fortress mountain. Famous artists, academics are buried in these tombs. Mozart's sister Nannerl and composer Michael Haydn were buried here at the beginning of the 19th century. Elaborate wrought iron crucifixes and old stone tombstones are particularly worth seeing.
Andrea Nori (2 years ago)
Definitely the most beautiful and interesting part of the entire abbey! Believe me that it's not just about the tombs, that actually only those are wonderful, but the place itself is fantastic, also because you can also see some interesting glimpses of the city's monuments! It is completely free of charge
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