Mirabell Gardens and Pegasus Fountain
Why is it significant?
Stand at the edge of the grand circular fountain basin and admire the dynamic bronze sculpture of the winged steed Pegasus leaping above the splashing water.
Key Facts
| Place | Mirabell Gardens and Pegasus Fountain |
|---|---|
| Address | Mirabellgarten, 5020 Salzburg, Austria |
| Geo Coordinates | 47.80480, 13.04280 |
| Part of Walk | Mirabell Gardens, Neustadt and Mülln: Princely Pleasure Grounds and Augustinian Brewing |
| Generated | Generated |
Stand at the edge of the grand circular fountain basin and admire the dynamic bronze sculpture of the winged steed Pegasus leaping above the splashing water. Cast in 1661 by the renowned Innsbruck foundry master Kaspar Gras, this energetic masterpiece originally stood on Kapitelplatz before moving to this garden parterre. From this exact vantage point unfolds the most iconic postcard vista in all of Salzburg, perfectly framing Hohensalzburg Fortress.
Around 1690, Prince-Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun commissioned baroque master architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to redesign the pleasure gardens into a formal masterpiece. Symmetrical broderie flower beds, clipped hedges, and classical stone vases were arranged in strict geometric harmony. Four monumental stone sculptural groups carved by Ottavio Mosto in 1690 represent the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire.
Millions of film lovers recognize this fountain basin from the beloved 1965 musical movie The Sound of Music. Here, Julie Andrews as Maria and the Trapp children danced joyfully around the fountain edge while singing the finale of Do-Re-Mi. Yet it was Emperor Franz Joseph the First who originally opened these private imperial gardens to the public in 1854 for all citizens to enjoy. 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.
Each season, municipal gardeners plant approximately one hundred thousand vibrant flowers in intricate historical patterns across the beds. The contrast between formal French-style floral artistry and the jagged limestone Alps rising in the distance is breathtaking. It represents one of the crowning triumphs of European landscape design. 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.
Walk westward and ascend the short stone stairway to explore the whimsical Dwarf Garden atop the fortified water bastion.