Saint Rupert's Day in Salzburg 2024
24 September 2024
Saint Rupert's Day is a regional public holiday in the city of Salzburg.
The holiday takes place in honour of the patron saint and founder of Salzburg, Saint Rupert. Rupert is one of the most important religious figures in Austria. The first bishop of the state, he is regarded as one of the wisest holy men to have ever lived.
He was the bishop of Worms (in modern-day Germany) when the Duke of Bavaria asked if he would come and help convert the Bavarian tribes, who were still Pagan at that time.
He had great success in spreading Christianity, earning him the name the "Apostle of the Bavarians". Rupert then moved on eastwards to further his missionary work.
Rupert arrived at an old Roman town called Juvavum that was almost in ruins.
If you have a basic knowledge of German, you may know that Salzburg means 'Salt Castle'. Juvavum was given this name by Rupert. It wasn't because the town was particularly salty - it was because the town was collecting tolls from the barges carrying salt down the Salzach river.
Rupert's arrival proved to be the spark for the revitalisation of the town which would go on to become an important city-state from the middle ages, whose most famous son is undoubtedly the great composer, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
The historic centre of the city was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
The Feast Day of Saint Rupert is actually on March 27th, the date of his death in 710. In Austria, Rupert is celebrated on September 24th, marking the date that his relics were transferred to Salzburg Cathedral in 774.
In honour of their patron saint's foundation of the city, the people of Salzburg have been celebrating Rupertitag for centuries.
Each year, Saint Rupert's Day attracts thousands of visitors to the old town of Salzburg. Numerous artisans, showmen and market traders revive the old fair traditions, and music and folklore groups ensure there is a cheerful and exuberant atmosphere with plenty of activities to keep the locals and tourists entertained. The day ends with a spectacular fireworks display.
On this day, Austrians in Salzburg attend mass or special novena prayer sessions devoted to St. Rupert. Many communities also hold a procession with his statue, to remind the rest of the country just how important he is to Austrian history and heritage.
Salzburg
Salzburg is the capital city of the State of Salzburg and fourth-largest city in Austria. The town is located on the site of the former Roman settlement of Iuvavum.
Salzburg was founded as an episcopal see in 696 and became a seat of the archbishop in 798. Its main sources of income were salt extraction and trade and, at times, gold mining. The fortress of Hohensalzburg, one of the largest medieval fortresses in Europe, dates from the 11th century. In the 17th century, Salzburg became a center of the Counter-Reformation, where monasteries and numerous Baroque churches were built.
Salzburg's historic center is thus renowned for its Baroque architecture and is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps, with 27 churches. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The city has three universities and a large population of students. Tourists also visit Salzburg to tour the historic center and the scenic Alpine surroundings. Salzburg was the birthplace of the 18th-century composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Because of its history, culture, and attractions, Salzburg has been labeled Austria's "most inspiring city."
Learn more about the Saint Rupert's Day in Salzburg
Here are the steps to plan your trip
1. Go to the official website and double check the event dates, prices and regulations.
2. Book hotel rooms in Salzburg available during the event. ⤵︎
2.1. Pick a hotel room by location and by price.
2.2. The search is done for 1 guest and the entire duration of the event. Click on the 'Filter', 'Guests', and 'Dates' buttons to adjust the search.
🏨 In the 'Filters' section, you can tell if you are looking for hotels or vacation homes. Here, you can filter the results by stars, review ratings, and budget.
👨👩👧👦 In this section, you can specify the number of guests (adults and children) and the number of rooms you want to book.
📆 Finally, you can change the date of your stay.
2.3. Save more money! Some hotel rooms are provided by multiple hotel booking websites. You will see them on the top of the hotel room details when you hover the mouse over the room. Be it Booking.com, Expedia, Trivago, Opodo, or other providers, select the best price provider for the room during the chosen period.
2.4. If hotel rooms are not available around the event location, you can zoom out or search by a nearby city/town name. If you have a specific hotel in mind, you can even search the particular hotel name.
2.5. Bonus tip: Switch to Experiences search. Perhaps you will find great tours and activities!
2.6. Pro tip: The map of the experiences may help you find the most vibrant areas in the city and the best locations where you can look for accommodations for your stay.
3. If everything is fine you can buy all the tickets
