Medieval lane on the east bank, running parallel to the Salzach at the foot of the Kapuzinerberg cliff. Free, always open. Under 300 m long.
The Story
Steingasse is older than most of Salzburg's famous streets. It follows the line of a Roman road that linked the river crossing to the salt mines of Hallein to the south, and the cobblestones conceal wagon ruts archaeologists date to the 4th century AD. The name means simply "stone lane," a reference to the medieval paving that set it apart from the dirt tracks of early Salzburg.
The Inneres Steintor, built around 1280 under Emperor Friedrich II's fortification order, still frames the northern entry to the street. It is the oldest surviving gate in the city. The houses on the river side lean slightly outward over the Salzach. The ones on the cliff side press against the rock of Kapuzinerberg directly. In places the lane narrows to about 5 m.
Joseph Mohr, lyricist of Stille Nacht ("Silent Night"), was born at Steingasse 31 in 1792, the illegitimate son of a textile worker. The family lived in poverty. He learned to sing in the choir at St. Peter's Abbey. The commonly cited No. 9 is a later misconception. There is no tourist plaque at the real birthplace.
At No. 25, the luthier Andreas Ferdinand Mayr operated a violin workshop from 1719 onward, serving the Archbishop's court. A child's violin attributed to Mayr's workshop, made around 1746 for a young Mozart, is now in the Mozart Birthplace Museum.
Today the street is mostly residential, with a handful of bars and clubs that make it a quieter alternative to the Altstadt at night. Das Kino, Salzburg's leading independent cinema, occupies one of the lanes.
Visiting
- Hours: always accessible
- Cost: free
- Duration: 10-20 minutes to walk through; longer if combining with Kapuzinerberg via the Imbergstiege
- Getting there: east bank; enter from Linzer Gasse at the southern end, or through the passageway at Staatsbrücke
- Book ahead: not needed
- Combine with: Linzer Gasse, Kapuzinerberg, Sebastiansfriedhof
- Tips: the Inneres Steintor is at the northern end; the lane is most photogenic in the morning before bars open