 Großes Festspielhaus (Grand Festival Theatre), Salzburg, Austria

The Grosses Festspielhaus or Grand Festival Theatre is one of the main theatres in Salzburg, Austria. It is located within Salzburg's World Heritage Site.
The Grosses Festspielhaus sits on the site of former palace stables. The stables were erected in 1606 for Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau. Johann Bernhard Fisher von Erlach designed its northern façade. The marble fountain, called Pferdeschwemme - horses' through - was built in 1695.

Grosses Festspielhaus
Author: eliseo carlos martin...
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners


Grosses Festspielhaus
Author: Seb.E
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners


Grosses Festspielhaus facade
Author: effeelle
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners


Grosses Festspielhaus facade
Author: millotaurus
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners
History of the Großes Festspielhaus
The idea to build a theatre complex for Salzburg dates back to 1917. The stables were converted for this purpose. The project was carried out in the 1920's under the direction of Austria's most famous architect, Clemens Holzmeister.
The Grand Theatre, or Grosses Festspeilhaus, was only completed in 1960. The inaugural performance was Richard Strauss' Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by Herbert von Karajan. Its huge stage was carved right out of the face of the Mönchsberg mount. The theatre can accommodate 2,400 spectators at one time.
|