New Residence

The New Residence

The Salzburg audio-guided tour takes you to the other side of the Residenzplatz, before the New Residence, a high place of culture. The building houses museums and a carillon whose bells punctuate the life of the city.

The rival of the Residence

The New Residence was built from 1588 by the prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, who had the old buildings of the site razed to install his new dwelling there. Curiously, in 1605, he finally chose to live in the old Residence, on the other side of the square. Enlarged and modified in the following century, the New Residence acquired arcades, a tower and a carillon that became one of its signatures. The city remained governed by the archbishops until the end of the archdiocese, in 1803.

What there is to see

The New Residence houses the Salzburg Museum, which presents the history of the art of the city and received in 2009 the award of European Museum of the Year, as well as the Christmas Museum, devoted to the decorations and objects of the years 1840 to 1940. Its tower and its carillon, whose bells resound regularly, complete the visit. It is a leading cultural stop, ideal for understanding the evolution of Salzburg.

Practical information

The New Residence is on the Residenzplatz, in the heart of the old town of Salzburg. Its museums can generally be visited all year round according to hours that may vary depending on the season. It is advisable to check the conditions of access and the prices before the visit. The carillon can be contemplated and heard freely from the square.

What museums does the New Residence house?

The Salzburg Museum, devoted to the history of the art of the city, and the Christmas Museum, dedicated to the decorations of the years 1840 to 1940.

Who had the New Residence built?

The prince-archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, from 1588, even though he finally chose to live in the old Residence.