Dreifaltigkeitskirche in Salzburg (Holy Trinity Church) was the first church designed by Baroque architect J. B. Fischer von Erlach within Salzburg…
…and it is today one of the most celebrated churches in the Austria.
Construction work on the church took place from 1694 to 1702, under commission from Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun.
The decorative design elements within the church have been done very subtly, giving the building a palatial look, with none of the highlights standing out too much.
PHOTO: A view to the church facade from Makartplazt, next to Mozart’s historical residence in Salzburg. As a building, the church was used by the architect (von Erlach) to inspire his later works, including the famous Karlskirche in Vienna.
PHOTO: Dreifaltigkeitskirche has a total of four allegorical statues over the main entrance, all designs by Bernhard Michael Mandl. The allegories are of 3 theological virtues (faith, hope, and love), with the fourth statue representing godly wisdom. In the middle of the artworks, you’ll be able to see the coat of arms for Archbishop Johann Ernst von Thun and the province of Salzburg.
Several of von Erlach’s contemporary master-artists took part in building the church, the most famous of which included…
- Bernhard Michael Mandl (who was born in Salzburg), and
- Sebastian Stumpfegger, (whose other works include the Holy Trinity Column in Linz)
The interiors of the church provide a monumental feeling, underlined by the church’s massive dome, Tambourkuppel.
Fischer von Erlach used similar interior elements in his other masterworks, including Vienna’s Karlskiche and Kollegienkirche (“University Church”) in Salzburg.
Of the interior elements, one of the most notable is the fresco inside the grand dome, an artwork by Michael Rottmayr, done in the period 1697 – 1700.
The artwork was, in fact, Rottmayr’s first sacramental dome fresco.
The fresco artwork represents crowning of Virgin Mary by the Holy Trinity, with Archangel Michael, several angels, prophets, saints, and church patriarchs providing a helping hand.
Dreifaltigkeitskirche – Salzburg
Dreifaltigkeitsgasse 14
5020 Salzburg
Finally, there’s the church altar, an artwork completed to perfection by the Baroque master, Fischer von Erlach, himself.