Dwarf Garden and Hedge Theater

Why is it significant?

Step onto the fortified bastion terrace of the Dwarf Garden and look into the mischievous faces of the grotesque marble statues. Around 1715, Prince-Archbishop Franz Anton von Harrach commissioned twenty-eight of these bizarre caricatures sculpted from white Untersberg marble.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Step onto the fortified bastion terrace of the Dwarf Garden and look into the mischievous faces of the grotesque marble statues. Around 1715, Prince-Archbishop Franz Anton von Harrach commissioned twenty-eight of these bizarre caricatures sculpted from white Untersberg marble. Depicting real-life court dwarves, guild craftsmen, and allegories of the twelve months, they provided lively conversation for noble strolling guests.

In the nineteenth century, Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria found the grotesque figures unbecoming and had them auctioned off to private collectors across Europe. For decades, the statues were scattered in country estates until the Salzburg City Association painstakingly tracked down and repurchased seventeen original dwarfs starting in 1919. Today, they stand proudly restored along the historic stone balustrades.

Directly adjacent lies the oldest surviving Hedge Theater in the German-speaking world, sculpted out of dense hornbeam hedges between 1704 and 1718. Natural leafy wings, backstage exits, and a sunken prompter's box were trimmed meticulously out of living foliage. Here, the prince-archbishops staged ballets, open-air plays, and musical pantomimes for distinguished noble audiences. The intricately crafted facade details and historic masonry continue to captivate historians and travelers alike. A thoughtful walk through these historic alleys reveals how masterfully Salzburg preserved its rich architectural heritage across centuries. Visitors from across the globe admire the authentic atmosphere and rich historical spirit of this iconic Mozart City landmark.

The acoustic clarity within this green theater is remarkably vibrant, as the dense beech hedges absorb echoes while projecting voices clearly. During summer festival months, chamber music and classical theatrical performances continue to be staged in this leafy outdoor arena. It is an extraordinary testament to how baroque garden designers transformed living nature into enduring theatrical architecture. Generations of Salzburg citizens have shaped this extraordinary site and passed its inspiring stories down to posterity. Throughout the neighboring streets, one can immediately sense the vibrant harmony between baroque tradition and cosmopolitan culture.

Leave the bastion garden through the eastern gate and stroll along Schwarzstraße to the grand facade of the Mozarteum.