Nonntaler Hauptstraße and Saint Erhard Church

Why is it significant?

Gaze upon the graceful twin-tower facade and stately copper cupola of Saint Erhard Church on Nonntaler Hauptstraße. Erected between 1685 and 1689 after plans by Graubünden master architect Giovanni Gaspare Zuccalli, this church was endowed by Prince-Archbishop Max Gandolf von Kuenburg.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Gaze upon the graceful twin-tower facade and stately copper cupola of Saint Erhard Church on Nonntaler Hauptstraße. Erected between 1685 and 1689 after plans by Graubünden master architect Giovanni Gaspare Zuccalli, this church was endowed by Prince-Archbishop Max Gandolf von Kuenburg. It originally served as the hospital church for the ancient Benedictine convent of Nonnberg crowning the hill above.

Step through the portals into an interior bathed in warm natural light, richly embellished with delicate white stucco work. The monumental high altar was designed in 1692 by baroque master Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, framing fine marble statues and a painting of Saint Erhard. The altarpiece illustrates Erhard baptizing the blind princess Odilia, who miraculously regained her sight upon receiving the holy sacrament.

Nonntaler Hauptstraße was for centuries the bustling commercial spine of the independent suburb of Nonntal. Blacksmiths, bakers, ropers, and innkeepers operated busy workshops here beyond the formal tax boundaries of the inner city gates. The district has proudly preserved its village-like character with historic taverns, specialty bakeries, and shaded garden terraces. 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.

Directly behind the church, ancient stone stairs and wooded paths climb the steep hillside to Nonnberg Abbey, the oldest continuously active convent in the world. The harmonious ensemble of baroque parish church, traditional artisan dwellings, and looming fortress rock creates an idyllic street scene. It is a peaceful neighborhood steeped in four centuries of living community spirit. 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 northward along the foot of the fortress hill to find the picturesque Krautwächterhäuschen perched on the slopes.