As a massive eye-catcher and the largest church in Salzburg's old town on the right-hand side of the Salzach, the Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Church of the Holy Trinity) with its mighty domed towers towers over the north side of Makartplatz.
What the Salzburg Cathedral is to the left-hand old town of Salzburg, the Holy Trinity Church is to the right-hand old town above the Salzach. Situated directly between Mozart's residence and the entrance to the Mirabell Gardens, the impressive Trinity Church is one of Salzburg's most beautiful and important places of worship.
We liked it so much that we put it on our list of the 10 most beautiful churches in Europe. Of course, it is also one of our top 10 sights in Salzburg.
Famous first work by Fischer von Erlach
Salzburg's Church of the Holy Trinity was the first architectural masterpiece by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. The ingenious Baroque master builder went on to create numerous other famous buildings, of which Schönbrunn Palace and the Karlskirche in Vienna are among the best known.
Commissioned by Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun as the seat of the seminary and built from 1694 to 1702, the mighty dome and the two towers still dominate Makartplatz in the centre of Salzburg. In 1699, the church was consecrated - three years before its completion.
Simple elegance without exuberance
Although built in the Baroque style, the Holy Trinity Church is free of the exuberant ornamentation that usually characterises other works from this period. In this way, the architect wanted to bring the overall architectural work of art to the fore.
To the left and right, the mighty tambour dome is flanked by the uniformly designed façades of the seminaries. From the entrance portal, figures representing faith, hope and love, as well as divine wisdom, look down on those entering.
The interior of the church is equally bright and friendly, without excessive gold leaf or ostentatious mahogany carvings.
The altar with a sculptural representation of the Holy Trinity and the two side altars with life-size angel statues are also designs by Fischer von Erlach.
The dome fr esco by Johann Michael Rottmayr, which depicts the coronation of Mary by the Holy Trinity - also the first sacred dome fresco by the master - is definitely worth seeing.
