Friedhof St. Peter (Petersfriedhof) — Local services in Salzburg

Ah, Petersfriedhof, or St. Peter's Cemetery, if you prefer the Anglicised nomenclature. Nestled beside the venerable St. Peter's Abbey, this hallowed ground is one of Salzburg's oldest and most captivating cemeteries. Reaching this repository of souls is fairly straightforward—easily accessible by a leisurely walk from the city centre or via public transport, whichever suits your temperament.

Now, let's delve into the past, shall we? Originating in about 1627, the cemetery is steeped in history. You'll find an assemblage of ornate tombstones and chapels that appear to have leapt out of an 18th-century Gothic novel, bearing witness to a gamut of Salzburg's citizenry, from venerable archbishops to humble artisans. The place exudes an air of antiquity that even the passage of time seems to respect.

As for myths or amusing tales, there's a peculiar one involving a certain set of catacombs. Ah yes, these aren't your typical underground chambers; they're practically hewn out of the adjacent Mönchsberg mountain! Local yarn has it that they were dug out by early Christians evading persecution, although that's more hearsay than written history.

In summation, Petersfriedhof offers not just a stroll through an open-air museum of Salzburg's illustrious and ordinary dead, but it also grants a peek into the city's culture and folklore. It's an indispensable stop for any history aficionado or, indeed, anyone with an afternoon to spare and a penchant for the...

The Catacombs in St. Peter's Cemetery is a collection of ancient caves and caverns inside Mount Monchsberg with conjecture that there may be traces of the early Christianity here. The Kommunegruft vault is the burial site of composer Johann Michael Haydan and Mozart's sister, Nannerl.

Climb up a narrow staircase of about 50 steps to reach the Gertraudenkapelle chapel dating back to 1178. On the opposite side, a few steps higher, there is a mall viewing area with beautiful views of the St. Peter Cemetery and the surrounding area.

Climb another 30 or so steps in a tunnel like staircase with low clearance to reach the Maximus chapel, which dates back to 477AD. Make sure to read about Maximus faith from the brochure you receive when you pay your 2 euros entry fee. So much history...

An intriguing step back into the past. Climb narrow stairs into old cave carved out if the mountainside that were used for worship and services. Open your eyes and take your time. Notice the work steps well trodden over centuries, see the now faint frescoes on the wall of the tiny chapel - an image of a knight or a saint?...it's a mystery lost to time. Find the place in the wall where a candle would once have flickered and has left the telltale soot marks. And see the fabulous views of the church, city and cemetary below from various vantage points. Stop and sit in the chapel if it's quiet. Feel the silence of centuries of prayers said there. We spent almost an hour enjoying a little slice of history. It's not a big place, but its richness is the thousand years of...