Guided tour of the special exhibition: The Rupertus Cross. An icon of medieval treasure art

The Rupertus Cross, on loan from the parish church of Bischofshofen, is one of the oldest and most significant art treasures of the Salzburg Cathedral Museum. As the largest surviving metal cross from the Early Middle Ages and one of the few surviving examples from this period, it combines fire-gilded copper, glass pastes, and poplar wood into a masterpiece of European art history from the 8th century. Closely linked to St. Rupert, the city's founding saint, it symbolizes the Christian beginnings and the rise of Salzburg.

The curator-led tour sheds light on current research findings and modern examination methods that provide new insights into the material, production, and history of the cross. It also addresses changes in monument preservation—particularly in comparison to the 1963 restoration. Insights into craftsmanship techniques and iconographic features round off the tour.