A new centre for art, culture, and UNESCO World Heritage
The name ‘Orangery Salzburg Panorama | World Heritage’ says it all:
In the south wing of the Orangery in Mirabell Gardens – one of the most beautiful locations within Salzburg’s UNESCO World Heritage Site – a new exhibition institution of Salzburg Museum is taking shape: the Orangery Salzburg. And right here, everything will soon revolve around the UNESCO World Heritage Site, in conjunction with Johann Michael Sattler’s famous Salzburg panorama.
The opening is scheduled for the first half of 2026.
Salzburg at a glance
The centrepiece of the Orangery Salzburg is the famous Salzburg Panorama by Johann Michael Sattler. The historic panoramic painting (1825–1829) conveys at a glance both the subject and the reasons for Salzburg’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site – among other things, as a unique, authentic, and well-preserved example of a European ecclesiastical city-state; and for its extensive collection of high-quality buildings ranging from the late Middle Ages to the twentieth century.
As part of the reinstallation of the panoramic painting in the Orangery Salzburg, the panorama will be accessible to all visitors, including those with disabilities, for the first time.
The ‘11th Square’
The central space, designed together with the Ars Electronica Futurelab – the ‘11th Square’ in the World Heritage Site, following the ten existing ones in the Old Town – is planned as an open meeting area for groups and individual visitors. It features a tiered seating area, multimedia stations, a city model, and a large-format video wall. The entire setup invites visitors to acquire knowledge, explore topics, try out offerings, as well as engage in discussions, ask questions, and share ideas.
Communicating UNESCO World Heritage
The historic centre of Salzburg has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. In keeping with UNESCO’s mission to bring the concept of ‘world heritage’ to life and communicate it in a sustainable manner, the Orangery Salzburg is now being realised. This includes explaining the history and concept of UNESCO World Heritage and initiating projects, exhibitions, and events to promote discussion about World Heritage.
A building steeped in history
The complete renovation and adaptation of the Orangery Salzburg is being carried out according to plans by MHM architects from Vienna. The entire historic Orangery complex is located in Mirabell Gardens, in the southeast section of Mirabell Palace. It encompasses the rose garden, the palm house, the garden parterre, and the south wing of the Orangery. Johann Fischer von Erlach is credited with the initial design. The complex was then rebuilt around 1725 according to plans by Franz Anton Danreiter.
Between 1830 and 1885, the south wing of the Orangery was extended and finally completely redesigned in the early 1970s. At that time, the building was demolished except for a few exterior walls, and a two-storey exhibition hall was erected. Designed by Gert Cziharz and Manfred Meixner, the building served as the location of the Baroque Museum with the Kurt Rossacher Collection until 2012.