7. Salzburg’s Cathedral

The Salzburg Cathedral (German: Salzburger Dom ) is a 17th century baroque cathedral in the city of Salzburg, dedicated to Saint Rupert of Salzburg. It is the site of Mozart's baptism. The site occupied by the Salzburg Cathedral was probably a sacred place for sacrifices in Celtic as well as Roman times.

The first cathedral was built under Saint Vergilius of Salzburg, who might have used foundations by St. Rupert. The first Dom was recorded in 774. The so-called Virgil Dom was built from 767 to 774 and was 66 metres long and 33 metres wide. Archbishop Arno (785 – 821) was the first to arrange renovations of the Dom, which was in place for less than 70 years.

In 842, the building burned down after being struck by lightning. Three years later, the re-erection of the building started. Under Archbishop Hartwig, a choir with a crypt was built towards West between 1000 and 1020. Under Archbishop Konrad I., the West-towers were built from 1106 to 1147.

This original church thus experienced at least three extensive building and rebuilding campaigns during the early middle ages, the final result of which was a somewhat ad hoc Romanesque basilica