St. Peter's Abbey
St. Peter's Abbey is a Benedictine monastery located next to the Franziskanerkirche in Salzburg's old town. The site includes a church with Romanesque and Baroque elements, adjoining stone monastery buildings, and a large cemetery with historic graves.
The monastery was founded in 696 and is the oldest active monastery in the German-speaking world. The current church dates from the 12th century and underwent multiple renovations, showing architectural styles from Romanesque through Rococo.
The name comes from Saint Peter, with the monastery founded by Saint Rupert in the late 600s. The cemetery with its old tombstones shows how deeply this place was woven into the life of the local community.
The catacombs are open daily from May through September with a small entrance fee. The church and cemetery are freely accessible most of the year, though it's best to check current opening times before visiting.
Beneath the abbey lie catacombs from late antiquity where early Christians gathered, made famous by the film The Sound of Music. These underground chambers provide a direct connection to religious practices from over 1000 years ago.
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