About the project

A cultural project with far-reaching impact

In the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town, a highlight of Austria’s museum scene is currently taking shape: the Neue Residenz, already home to Salzburg Museum, is being expanded into a highly attractive cultural area and venue for the newly created ‘Belvedere Salzburg’.

From 2027 onward, this branch will showcase masterpieces from the Austrian Belvedere Gallery’s collection and present 800 years of art history with selected connections to Salzburg. The Neue Residenz is currently undergoing complete renovation and expansion based on the spectacular plans of ‘Schenker Salvi Weber Architekten’ and ‘Eidos Architektur’.

In the future, Salzburg Museum and Belvedere Salzburg will cooperate in a manner unique across Europe. Two independent museums with their own collections, characters, and research focuses will work together under one roof.

Exhibitions and programmes of Salzburg Museum and the Austrian Gallery Belvedere will enter into a dialogue with each other, together offering an extremely attractive invitation to rediscover art and experience the diverse offerings of two museums in Salzburg.

Architecture

A Light Well for Salzburg

The architectural concept for the overall project – the site expansion of the Salzburg Museum Neue Residenz / ‘Belvedere Salzburg’ – was developed by the firms ‘Schenker Salvi Weber Architekten ZT GmbH’ and ‘Eidos Architektur ZT GmbH’. Together, their design won the international architectural competition in 2022. As part of the project implementation, public areas are now being created in the historic part of the property, as well as the new spacious exhibition areas of ‘Belvedere Salzburg’ in the second inner courtyard of the Neue Residenz.

With its light well and distinctive landscape architecture, the future Belvedere courtyard will also serve as the foyer of the new museum complex – a public space perfect for relaxation and exploration in the heart of Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage Old Town.

Cultural complex

Art meets nature: A new public space in and for Salzburg

The overall project to expand the Salzburg Museum Neue Residenz / ‘Belvedere Salzburg’ also marks an important milestone in the urban development of Salzburg’s historic Old Town. In addition to the new museum with outstanding insights into the collection of the Austrian Gallery Belvedere, the Neue Residenz is undergoing a complete transformation into a highly attractive cultural complex. One of Salzburg’s largest courtyards is becoming a new public space, perfect for relaxation and exploration – thanks in particular to extensive landscaping.

What’s more, new public walkways will be created between Residenzplatz and Mozartplatz as well as Kaigasse, offering attractive opportunities to experience the UNESCO World Heritage Site from fresh and new perspectives.

Frequently asked questions

Site expansion

What added value and improvements will the museum expansion bring to the people of Salzburg?

In addition to the new museum with outstanding insights into the collection of the Austrian Belvedere Gallery, the Neue Residenz is undergoing a complete transformation into a highly attractive cultural complex. For the people of Salzburg, a new public space is being created in the large courtyard of the Residenz, one perfect for relaxation and exploration – thanks in particular to extensive landscaping. What’s more, there will also be new public walkways between Residenzplatz and Mozartplatz as well as Kaigasse. The overall project is sure to be a milestone in making the courtyards more attractive to the people of Salzburg.

When are Salzburg Museum and Belvedere Salzburg scheduled to open, and what can visitors expect to see?

Construction is scheduled for completion in 2026. The opening of the ‘Belvedere Salzburg’ for the first half of 2027. In addition to new accessible rooms for events and educational programmes, the Austrian Belvedere Gallery will be displaying highlights from its collection in Salzburg. What’s more, spaces will be created for temporary exhibitions of the Austrian Belvedere Gallery in Salzburg. Salzburg Museum will once again use the first floor for permanent exhibitions from its collection, while the art gallery will host changing special exhibitions.

What alternative programmes and activities does Salzburg Museum offer its visitors during the construction phase?

In principle, all the other sites of Salzburg Museum (i.e., the Fortress Museum, the Folklore Museum, the Toy Museum, the Knowledge Centre, the Museum of the Celts Hallein, and the Silent Night Museum Hallein) will remain open during the construction phase in the Neue Residenz and will offer an attractive programme of exhibitions and events. In addition, Salzburg Museum will present its own exhibition programme in Salzburg for the entire duration of the Neue Residenz’s closure. Specifically, in 2024 and 2025, exhibitions from the collection will be shown in collaboration with institutions in the city and province of Salzburg under the motto ‘Salzburg Museum – Gastspiel’.

Thanks to these planned collaborations with the Kunstverein, Fotohof, Museumspavillon, the Museum der Moderne, Galerie im Traklhaus, Initiative Architektur, and the Museum of Mining and Gothic Art Leogang, Salzburg Museum will maintain a continuous presence. In addition, events (e.g., the successful Museum Talks) will be offered at the MdM Rupertinum, among other venues. Programmes for schools can be offered in the specially adapted ‘STUDIO Knowledge Centre’ on Alpenstrasse.

For further questions, plesae reach out to baustelle@salzburgmuseum.at