Kapitelplatz

This is one square you simply can’t miss while exploring Salzburg, Kapitelplatz!

And there’s one thing here that’s impossible not to notice: the towering Hohensalzburg Fortress, which looms high above the square. Kapitelplatz is framed by some of the city’s most important landmarks, including St. Rupert’s Cathedral, the University of Salzburg, and part of St. Peter’s Abbey.

But what really catches the eye here is a rather unusual piece of art, positioned right next to one of the cathedral’s towers. Don’t worry, it’s not a real person standing so confidently on top of that giant golden sphere! It’s actually a bronze sculpture, weighing over 300 kilos, of a man perched 9 meters in the air. His face is completely expressionless, we don’t know who he is, what he’s thinking, or why he’s there.

He could be anyone, really. This thought-provoking work was created by German artist Stephan Balkenhol and installed here in 2007. It’s part of a pair, its companion piece, featuring a woman with the same neutral expression, can be found standing in a hollowed-out rock nearby.

Blending history, culture, and contemporary art, Kapitelplatz is without a doubt one of the must-see spots in Salzburg.