Palais Chiemseehof

The Chiemseehof is a historic palace in the Kaiviertel in Salzburg. The former seat of the Bishops of Chiemsee now houses the Salzburg State Government and the Salzburg State Parliament.

It comprises a total of five buildings as a block between Pfeifergasse and Krotachgasse, with an inner courtyard open to the latter. The ensemble is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg.

In 1215, the Archbishop of Salzburg established the Diocese of Chiemsee. The Bishop of Chiemsee served as the personal auxiliary bishop of the Archbishop, who also assigned him further duties. Although bishop of his own diocese, the bishop always resided in Salzburg, where he inhabited the Chiemseehof, first mentioned in 1216. Around 1300, it was expanded into a residence. The chapel of the court was consecrated in an enlarged size, which could confidently be called a church, in 1497. After a fire at the end of the 16th century, the buildings were rebuilt, enlarged, and renovated from 1694 onwards. The Chiemseehof served as the residence of the Bishops of Chiemsee until 1812. In 1812, the former Bishop of Chiemsee Sigmund Christoph von Zeil und Trauchburg was recognized as administrator of the Archdiocese of Salzburg. Until 1861, his successors, the Archbishops of Salzburg Augustin Gruber, Prince zu Schwarzenberg, and von Tarnóczy, resided here. Since 1866, the Chiemseehof has been the seat of the Salzburg State Parliament and the State Government. The complex was rebuilt several times; for example, in 1873, during adaptation works, the Kumpfmüllertor including its annexes and the court chapel were demolished. The current meeting hall of the State Parliament was set up in a building that Bishop Silvester Phlieger (1438-1451) had erected as a granary. In 1967 and 1977, the Chiemseehof was fundamentally renovated.