Getreidegasse Salzburg © Tourismus Salzburg GmbH

The Getreidegasse in Salzburg

One of the most beautiful shopping streets

Stroll through the famous Getreidegasse in Salzburg!

The Getreidegasse is not only known as a shopping street but also for its history-steeped atmosphere with its wrought-iron guild symbols and passageways.

Discover the Getreidegasse and other highlights of Salzburg in 48 hours!

History of the Getreidegasse

As early as the Roman Age the Getreidegasse was an important route through the city of Salzburg towards Bavaria. It was first mentioned in a document in 1150 – however still under the name “Trabgasse”.

Over the course of several centuries, the Getreidegasse was expanded as far as the city’s fortification, the river Salzach and land ownership allowed. The Getreidegasse had always a place of trade and wealth. Trading houses, apothecaries, craft businesses, breweries and taverns were run here. The tall and narrow townhouses belonged to city councilmen, officials, judges and minters.

The most notable house of the Getreidegasse is certainly Mozart’s Birth Place. The composer was born here in 1756 and lived in the house at the Hagenauer square for the first 17 years of his life.

 

Mozart Birthplace © Alex Hoerner
© Alex Hoerner

The curious name of the Getreidegasse

„Getreidegasse“ literally translates to “grain alley”. However, unlike the name would suggest the Getreidegasse has nothing to do with grain. Initially, the Getreidegasse’s name was “Trabgasse”. The word stems from the dialect word “trabig” which means “being in a hurry”. Over time, “trabig” changed and became “trav”, “traid” and eventually “Getreidegasse”.

Getreidegasse - birds eye view © Tourismus Salzburg GmbH
© Tourismus Salzburg GmbH

Architecture

A special architectural feature of the Getreidegasse are the many houses with public passageways on the ground floor. These passages connect the Getreidegasse with the Griesgasse and with the university square, respectively. Some of these passageways have become shopping arcades and allow access to courtyards with many historical remains, like crests, inscriptions, columns, archways, reliefs, …

During earlier centuries, the Getreidegasse was cleaned of dirt and waste every Saturday evening and before every holiday. This was done by flooding the entire alley with water from the Alm channel and draining it into the river Salzach.

On many houses there are the inscriptions of the names of previous owners, painted God’s Eyes or wrought-iron guild signs to be discovered. Keep your eyes open!

Getreidegasse Salzburg © Tourismus Salzburg GmbH
© Tourismus Salzburg GmbH

FAQs Getreidegasse

The Getreidegasse runs parallel to the river Salzach along its north bank. The alley is part of the large pedestrian zone in the Salzburg Old Town.

Nowadays, the Getreidegasse is mainly known as a shopping street. It offers a broad range of modern and traditional stores and many different restaurants, eateries and cafés. Enjoy (window) shopping in one of Salzburg’s oldest alleys! Or go on a city tour with Panorama Tours to find out more about the Getreidegasse and the Old Town with its many sights.

Besides offering many shopping opportunities the Getreidegasse is also the location for events – especially around Christmas time. In December the Krampus run throughout the Old Town and especially the Getreidegasse takes place. The arcades between the Getreidegasse and the Griesgasse host the Sternadvent – a romantic Christmas market.

In addition, three museums in the Getreidegasse offer interesting insights into different topics: the Mozart museum in Mozart’s birthplace, the Toy Museum and the Sound of Music World.