Kapitelplatz (Chapter Square)

Kapitelplatz

About

Once the site of the Cathedral cloister, Kapitelplatz ('Chapter Square') is now a spacious plaza tucked in behind the west side of the Dom directly under the Hohenfestung. Today its large centre hosts many events throughout the year, including a large beer hall during Salzburg's Rupertikirtag festival towards the end of September (in 2011, 21st – 25th). Lined with food and souvenir stalls, it has an oversized chess set in one corner. Next to the chess board is a large sculpture of a young man standing atop a large gold ball and staring across the distance. Look for a card of explanation on the side of the cathedral behind the sculpture. Also don't miss the eerie bronze sculpture tucked in to a niche next to the cathedral wall. Across from these sculptures, on the far side of the square, you'll find the Baroque Neptune Fountain created by Anton Pfaffinger in 1732. Modelled after Roman fountains and built on a design by Franz Anton Danreiter, it has a ramp to lead horses into the pool where, shaded by overhanging trees, they can cool themselves under the gaze of Neptune, god of the sea, who rides a seahorse spurting water.

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