St Peter's Abbey is a Benedictine monastery tucked against the cliffs of the Mönchsberg in Salzburg's old town. Founded by Saint Rupert in 696, it is considered the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world with an unbroken history, and monks still live and pray here. Visitors come for three things: a Romanesque church dressed in Rococo, a cemetery of wrought-iron graves under the rock face, and so-called catacombs carved into the cliff.
St Peter's Abbey at a glance
- Where: St.-Peter-Bezirk in the old town, between Salzburg Cathedral and the foot of the Mönchsberg.
- Founded: in 696; the present church was built from about 1130 and consecrated in 1147.
- By: founded by Saint Rupert; the church's Rococo interior was created between 1760 and 1782 under Abbot Beda Seeauer.
- What it is today: a working archabbey of Benedictine monks, with a church, cemetery and catacombs open to visitors.
- Time needed: 45 minutes to an hour for the church, cemetery and catacombs.
Thirteen centuries of monks
Saint Rupert, a bishop from Worms, founded the monastery in 696 on the site of an older church from late Roman times, to spread Christianity in the Eastern Alps. For almost three centuries the abbot was also Archbishop of Salzburg, until the two offices were separated in 987. In the Middle Ages St Peter's was known for its school, and it sent monks out to found other abbeys. When Archbishop Paris Lodron founded Salzburg's Benedictine university in 1623, the abbey was closely tied to it until the university was dissolved in 1810.
The present church was begun around 1130 and keeps its Romanesque shape, but inside it was redecorated in rich Rococo style in the 18th century, and the tower received its onion dome in 1756. In 1927 the abbey was raised to the rank of archabbey. After the Nazi annexation of Austria in 1938 the buildings were seized and most monks were expelled, but the community was never dissolved and returned after the war.
What to look for
- The church interior: white and pastel stucco, gilding and large paintings over a Romanesque structure; the high altar painting is by Martin Johann Schmidt.
- Famous graves: the composer Michael Haydn, Joseph Haydn's younger brother, and Mozart's sister Maria Anna, known as Nannerl, are both buried at St Peter's.
- The cemetery: one of the oldest in Salzburg, with wrought-iron grave crosses and family tombs in arcades along the foot of the cliff.
- The catacombs: rooms and chapels carved into the conglomerate rock of the Mönchsberg, reached by steps from the cemetery, with chapels dedicated in the 1170s.
- The Romanesque portal: look at the entrance of the church, where the older medieval stonework survives under the later decoration.
Mozart's Mass and Europe's oldest restaurant?
Mozart's Great Mass in C minor is believed to have had its first performance in St Peter's church in October 1783, with his wife Constanze singing one of the soprano parts, even though the work was never finished. Next door, the abbey's restaurant, St. Peter Stiftskulinarium, claims to be the oldest restaurant in Central Europe, based on a document from the year 803 that mentions it. Whether or not it is truly the oldest, eating in its vaulted rooms is a memorable way to end a visit.
Tips for your visit
- Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon, when the cemetery is quiet and the low light falls across the cliff.
- The cemetery is still in use: walk quietly, keep to the paths and don't sit on graves.
- Climb up to the catacombs for a view down over the cemetery and the abbey roofs.
Nearby
- Salzburg Cathedral: the great Baroque cathedral where Mozart was baptised, a couple of minutes' walk away.
- Hohensalzburg Fortress: the medieval fortress above the old town; the funicular station is just behind the cemetery.
- Mozart's Birthplace: the yellow house on Getreidegasse where Mozart was born in 1756, about ten minutes' walk away.
See Salzburg with World City Trail
Our Salzburg scavenger hunt turns the old town into a game you play on your phone. The route links 10 stops and takes around 2 hours, with about 31 minutes of walking, and it includes places such as Mirabell Palace and Gardens, Mozart's Birthplace and Salzburg Cathedral.
If you prefer a different format, Salzburg also has a self-guided walking tour and an outdoor escape game.
Play the Salzburg scavenger hunt →
Take the self-guided walking tour of Salzburg →
Play the outdoor escape game in Salzburg →
Facts checked in October 2026.