Volkskundemuseum Salzburg

The Volkskundemuseum Salzburg is an ethnographic museum that collects and displays traditional clothing, folk art objects, and furniture from different periods. The collection spreads across several rooms showing regional craftsmanship and religious items from the various Salzburg landscapes.

The museum was founded in 1924 and sits inside the Monatsschlössl on Hellbrunn Hill, a hunting lodge built by Archbishop Markus Sittikus in 1615. Over time the collections have documented social changes in the region and continue to grow through regular acquisitions.

The collection shows regional customs and traditions that are still part of life in different Salzburg areas. You can see how people celebrated and marked important occasions, especially through the many masks and costumes made for local festivals.

The museum is easy to reach and sits on a hill with good access for visitors, though some stairs are part of the walk. It is wise to wear comfortable shoes and allow time to explore the different exhibition rooms.

The headdresses of the Pongauer Schönperchten are remarkably large ceremonial masks worn during winter traditions that can reach heights of over 2 meters. Visitors are often taken aback by the sheer size and weight of these intricately crafted pieces.