Hellbrunn Palace

The archbishop's pleasure palace with its fountains

Excursion destinations for the whole family in Salzburg

Alongside Mirabell Palace, Hellbrunn Palace is the most famous palace in the city of Salzburg. The idyllic complex with the magnificent late Renaissance building, the cheeky trick fountains and the huge park is definitely one of the must-sees on holiday in Salzburg. Be enchanted by its history and be prepared for wet surprises at the Hellbrunn trick fountains!

Castle park & trick fountains

In 1612, Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus decided to have a summer residence built in the south outside the city of Salzburg. Modelled on Italian Mannerist stately homes, the aim was to create a place of pleasure and relaxation for the prince-archbishop and his guests.

The famous Hellbrunn trick fountains

As a special attraction, he had water features installed that are still unique in the Alpine region today. The water machines work completely hydraulically and are powered by water from the nearby Untersberg.

A guided tour of the trick fountains takes you into enchanting grottoes with mechanical figures, shows you the crown dancing on the water jet and lets you take a seat at a stone table where the prince archbishop once entertained his guests and also thought of fun.

The famous Hellbrunn trick fountains

Attractions in the palace park

Behind Hellbrunn Palace is an extensive park with avenues, meadows, playgrounds and a Kneipp facility. Here you can go for a walk, do sports or simply enjoy nature. You will also find a whole range of sights here:

the Theatrum (Roman theatre)
the princely table made of marble
the raw limestone wine cellar the star pond and other ponds with capital carp
splendid fountains
Eight impressive grottos

Romantic Advent market

In winter, a cross-country ski trail is groomed in the park when there is sufficient snow. In the run-up to Christmas, the façade of Hellbrunn Palace also provides a romantic backdrop for the local Christmas market. Various stalls invite you to look around and enjoy the Christmas atmosphere between the many fir trees.

Our recommendation

Combine your trip to Hellbrunn Palace with a visit to the nearby Salzburg Zoo - this will make the day an adventure for younger children too.

Salzburg Zoo

For families and animal lovers, Hellbrunn is also home to Salzburg's zoo, which impresses with its beautiful, near-natural grounds at the foot of Hellbrunn Mountain. Around 1,200 animals from 150 species live there in spacious enclosures, ranging from Alpine inhabitants to animals from Africa, America and Australia.

Hellbrunn can be reached in around half an hour by bus from Hotel Scherer. If you prefer a more adventurous experience, you can take the Salzach boat, which departs from the Makartsteg in the city centre.

City Hotel Scherer in the centre of Salzburg

Discover Hellbrunn Palace and its special attraction, the trick fountains. Spend the night in the family-run 4-star hotel, which is the ideal base for exploring the many sights of the city of Salzburg.

Would you like to visit Hellbrunn Palace? Then send us a non-binding inquiry now or simply book online and secure yourself an unforgettable holiday in the city of Salzburg.