Salzburg grants festival project Mönchsberg subsoil rights for one euro

The city of Salzburg will transfer ownership rights below the Mönchsberg to the Salzburg Festival for one euro, ORF reported, clearing a legal issue before construction begins in the festival district.

The ownership arrangements between the city, the Salzburg Festival Fund and the company operating the old-town garages must be clarified. The issue concerns about 3,500 square metres of land. Experts estimate the value of the building rights at around 200,000 euros.

The city and the garage operator are directly affected by the festival renovations. The city owns the land above the planned underground festival facilities, while the garage operator runs the old-town garages and their associated paths, lifts and passageways.

In principle, land ownership extends down to the centre of the Earth. Anyone wishing to build below a property therefore needs the owner’s permission. The city had not previously granted that permission.

It is now transferring the so-called subsoil ownership to the festival for a symbolic one euro, arguing that the project is clearly in the public interest. The decision was approved by almost all members, with only the KPÖ voting against it. The party criticised the festival renovations, which are expected to cost hundreds of millions of euros.