Carved from the Untersberg
Much of Schloss Leopoldskron’s character begins with the stone itself. The warm-toned marble throughout the staircase was quarried from Untersberg, the mountain that rises just beyond the estate.
Revered for its unique hue and durability, this local stone reflects both the Schloss’s connection to Salzburg’s landscape and the desire to embed power, permanence, and place into its architecture, literally grounding grandeur in the earth.
A Ceiling of Embroidered Stone
Above the stairs, the white rococo stucco seems to ripple like delicate fabric in motion. Crafted by artist Johann Kleber, this work is considered one of the finest examples of rococo stucco in Austria.
The light, billowing shapes soften the rigid classical structure of the staircase—inviting visitors to look upward and lose themselves in a ceiling that floats like embroidered silk stitched in plaster.
Faces of Empire
Two Roman emperors—Marcus Aurelius and Septimius Severus—watch over visitors climbing the stairs. Aurelius, remembered for his stoic writings, represents intellect and duty. Severus, born in what is now Libya, ruled during a time of military consolidation and imperial ambition.
While records of his racial identity remain debated, his legacy has become a source of cultural reclamation for Black historians and artists—marking his bust here not just as a classical relic, but as a portal to reinterpreted power.