Kapitelplatz (Chapter Square), Salzburg

Chapter Square (Kapitelplatz), in the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town, is a spacious, diamond-shaped square surrounded by historical buildings. Bordering it on the north side is the Salzburg Cathedral. The Cathedral Provost's Office and the Archbishop's Palace are on the east side, while to its west are the novice's wing of Saint Peter's Monastery and the Cathedral Chapter's mills. The religious sites around the square serve as reminders of the powerful archdiocese that once ruled the city.

The square and the adjacent Chapter Lane (Kapitelgasse) are named after the Salzburg cathedral chapter, a set of canons that regulated worship services at the cathedral and in the city of Salzburg.

The Waldstein Canon House at Number 2, first mentioned in 1547, has served various purposes through the centuries, from housing the cathedral chapter's administration to serving as military and tax offices. It is now used by the Archdiocese of Salzburg. Nearby, the Number 4 Chapter House was rebuilt in its present form after a catastrophic fire in 1598. Today, this building houses the University of Salzburg’s rectorate and administrative offices.

The Salm-Firmian Canonical House at Numbers 5-7, initially designed as a hospital and later transformed into canon housing, is now a part of the university, hosting law libraries. Also noteworthy is the Cathedral Deanery at Number 6.

Significant too is the Cardinal Schwarzenberg House, which has transitioned from a granary to a "storehouse of knowledge," presently housing the cathedral archive and music rooms.

Aside from the beautiful view of High Salzburg Fortress (perfect for taking pictures), three things stand out on the square itself. These include the giant chessboard that often draws a crowd; the playful modern sculpture of the 'emotionless man' on the golden ball (called 'Sphaera') installed in 2007; and a spectacular Neptune's Fountain, built in 1732 on the site of one of the old horse ponds. Forming part of the so-called Chapter Flood (Kapitelschwemme) ensemble, the fountain shows the God of the Sea holding a trident and crown while being mounted on a seahorse spurting water. It looks a bit like a mini-version of the Fontana di Trevi in Rome, which is probably why many tourists throw coins into the shallow well.