Fürsterzbischöfliche Hofapotheke:
The Ancient Pharmacy of the Archbishop
The Fürsterzbischöfliche Hofapotheke is the old pharmacy of the Prince Archbishops of Salzburg and can be found at the Alter Markt Square. It is often pointed out in travel guides or during guided tours, but has one unpleasant feature usually not emphasised enough: The owners are anything but friendly with respect to tourists and taking pictures is strictly prohibited. In other words: You better pretend to be a customer and be quick with your camera!
The pharmacy is famous for its interiors in a rustic design that depicts various scenes in a traditional way, similar to the way it is done on local folk art furniture. It is the oldest pharmacy in Salzburg and one of the oldest in Central Europe - even though it has changed locations repeatedly. The origins can be tracked back to medieval times; until the end of the 16th century, the predecessor of the Fürsterzbischöfliche Hofapotheke could be found in the house of Getreidegasse 9 - today one of the top-attractions of Salzburg, because this building later became the birth place of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Back then, it was an ordinary pharmacy.
Salzburg's Oldest Pharmacy
In 1588, it became the official pharmacy of the Prince Archbishop and was now called "Fürsterzbischöfliche Hofapotheke" which translates as "Prince Archbishop′s Court Pharmacy". The facility moved to a new venue at the Residenzplatz in 1591. The following years saw some changes in ownership. Nevertheless, the pharmacy continued to be operating throughout the following centuries. In 1910, it was finally transferred to its current location at the Alter Markt. The building is Medieval, but got a neo-Classicist façade that is typical for Viennese Historicism in the 19th century.
Note that there are several other legendary companies in the immediate neighbourhood of the Fürsterzbischöfliche Hofapotheke. The most important ones are the chocolatier Fürst, the inventor of the Mozartkugel (Mozart Balls), the Tomaselli (Austria′s oldest café), an Augarten porcelain shop and, around the corner, the bookshop Höllrigl, the oldest bookshop in the German-speaking world.
Hidden Treasures of Salzburg
Links
http://www.apotheker.or.at/
Official Website & opening hours of the Fürsterzbischöfliche Hofapotheke
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alter_Markt_%28Salzburg%29
German Wikipedia on Alter Markt & f. e. Hofapotheke
