Whether you’re visiting Salzburg on a guided day trip, as part of a walking tour, or planning an extended stay, the cathedral is a must-visit. The story of the structure reveals a history of destruction and restoration. There’s been a sacred building on the site since the 8th century, yet the current building was constructed in the 17th century, damaged in bombing raids during World War II, and was extensively repaired in the 1950s.
Several interesting items in the cathedral speak to its long history: the bronze baptismal font dates from the 1300s, and was used to baptize Mozart himself; and the two relics contain the remains of Austrian saints Rupert, the patron saint of Salzburg, and Virgil, a holy Irishman and astronomer who came to Austria in the 8th century. Head down to the crypt to see the foundations of earlier versions of the church.