Salzburger Zeitung - Der Zwerglgarten

Back in 1715 Prince Archbishop Franz Anton Harrach wasn’t terribly big into political correctness when he had the Zwergerlgarten (Dwarf Garden) built in the gardens of Schloss Mirabell. Dwarfs were a source of amusement and kept in large households for their entertainment value. Many of the Salzburg stone dwarfs were modeled on real members of the Archbishop’s retinue; others were simply caricatures of peasants and foreigners.

Of the original 28 grotesques only 15 are still there and they have been moved to a high tower-like patch of grass surrounded by a moat. In the spirit of Baroque political incorrectness I’ve decided to post a Dwarf a Day; hopefully that will not offend as I am thinking of them more an example’s of an anonymous stonemason’s craft.



Since the garden was restored in 1928 these two have been guarding the drawbridge crossing while waiting to play what appears to be a rather dangerous ball game – notice the Mad Max padding.

13 maggio - San Giovanni il silenzioso