St. Peter's Abbey

Overview

St. Peter's Abbey (Stift St. Peter) is the oldest monastery in the German-speaking world, founded by St. Rupert of Salzburg in 696 AD. The Romanesque-Baroque church, catacombs carved into the Mönchsberg cliff, and the adjacent Petersfriedhof cemetery form one of the city's most atmospheric ensembles.

Highlights

• Church Interior: A Romanesque basilica overlaid with Baroque stucco and Rococo frescoes.
• Catacombs: Rock-hewn chapels and hermit cells in the cliff face, some dating to the early Christian era.
• St. Peter's Bakery: The monastery bakery (since 1160) sells traditional bread from a centuries-old wood-fired oven.

History

St. Rupert received the ruined Roman town of Iuvavum (Salzburg) from the Bavarian Duke in 696 and founded both the abbey and the Nonnberg convent. The monastery has been continuously occupied by Benedictine monks for over 1,300 years.

Visitor Tips

• Free admission to the church; catacombs require a small fee (€2).
• The Stiftskeller restaurant in the abbey courtyard claims to be Europe's oldest (803 AD).
• Duration: 30–45 minutes.