Felsenreitschule

Under Archbishop Johann Ernst Thun, the Felsenreitschule was carved from the rock of the Mönchsberg, according to plans by the baroque master builder Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. At that time the Felsenreitschule was used for animal baiting and riding displays.

The public watched from 96 arcades arranged in three tiers. In 1926 Max Reinhardt first undertook the experiment of using the Felsenreitschule for a Festival production, staging Goldoni´s The Servant of Two Masters. In 1933 Clemens Holzmeister erected the so-called "Faust city" there, some of the most impressive stage scenery ever. Herbert von Karajan first used the Felsenreitschule to perform an operatic production, Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, in 1948.

There was a major transformation in 1969/70, again according to plans by Clemens Holzmeister.
The 40 m stage was enlarged by a 4 m deep area beneath the stage. Collapsable seating for the audience with storage space for scenery underneath was added, as was a lighting gantry.
To protect the stage a retractable roof was installed with a fine grille above it to dampen the sound of the rain. This roof can be slid open.

The Felsenreitschule holds an audience of 1,549.
The 29 rows in the ground floor are rising.

How to reach the Felsenreitschule:

It lies in the heart of Salzburg's old-town and can be reached by walking within a few minutes from nearly all points of the old.town.

Parking: Travellers by car can use the "Altstadt-Garage" in the Mönchsberg. From there you can enter the foyer of the Festival Halls through a seperate gangway, wich will be opend one hour before the beginning of the performance. From one hour before the beginning of the concert on, there will also be a doorman with whom the guests of the Felsenreitschule can purchase a reduced parking ticket (which is valid for 8 hours) on presentation of their entrance tickets.

Public transport: Following busse stop at Herbert-von-Karajan-Platz, from where you enter in Hofstallgasse (after crossing the "Bürgerspitalgasse") where the main entrance of the Festival Halls and of the Felsenreitschule is located: Bus No. 1, 4, 15.

Hofstallgasse 1
5010 Salzburg

Salzburg City Map (german)

Seating plan