The Salzburg Mozartkugel Specialty – Homage to Genius and Craftsmanship
Willkommen im Haus der Salzburger Mozartkugel – einer der berühmtesten Pralinen Österreichs.
Likely as an homage to the musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the Salzburg confectioner Rudolf Baumann first promoted his exquisite chocolate bonbons under the name “Salzburger Mozartkugel” – handcrafted and carefully wrapped in the characteristic silver foil. As the namesake of the sweet Salzburg specialty, Rudolf Baumann simply called his creation “Mozartkugel”. Since the early 20th century, the Salzburg Mozartkugel has been available here: at the traditional Confiserie Josef Holzermayr – in the heart of Salzburg’s Old Town. Today, the “Genuine Salzburger Mozartkugel” is a fine composition of pistachio-almond marzipan, with a hazelnut nougat centre, coated in dark couverture chocolate. Crafted with great care and selected ingredients, this sweet specialty remains a coveted gift – appreciated by connoisseurs around the globe.
Chronicle & History of Confiserie Josef Holzermayr
The Holzermayr family – a sixth-generation family business. The roots of today’s internationally renowned Confiserie Josef Holzermayr date back to the year 1865. At that time, the success story of a company that has preserved the highest craftsmanship for generations began in the small town of Werfen.
Company founder Josef Holzermayr Sr. worked as a gingerbread maker, chandler, and confectioner from 1865. With great craftsmanship, he took over the traditionalLebzelterhaus in Werfen, where he first produced and also sold his handmade sweet specialties. Sein Fleiß und seine Leidenschaft für das Handwerk machten Josef Holzermayr sen. bald über die Region hinaus bekannt: Mit seinen Confiserie-Köstlichkeiten war er auf Kirchweihfesten und Bauernmärkten im ganzen Land vertreten.
Another significant milestone followed.
Josef Holzermayr Sr. became an Imperial and Royal Purveyor to the Courtand was henceforth chosen to supply Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Archduke Eugen, and their distinguished guests from around the world with his sweet specialties. With nothing more than a horse-drawn covered wagon, yet filled with ambition and artisanal dedication, the committed confectioner regularly made his way to Hohenwerfen Fortress – an early testament to the esteem his products already enjoyed at that time.
The confectionery in Salzburg’s Old Town.
In keeping with the company philosophy “Chocolate to enjoy”, wholesale confectionery merchant Rudolf Holzermayr and his brother Josef Holzermayr Jr., a confectioner by trade, founded Confiserie Holzermayr at Mozartplatz 2–3 in Salzburg’s Old Town. The family set itself the goal of bringing its handcrafted specialties to a broad audience. Popular with tourists, the Salzburg Mozartkugel became a sought-after souvenir at the famous Mozartplatz, right next to the venerable monument to the world-renowned composer. The Holzermayr café-patisserie in Werfen provided the artisanal foundation for the house’s sweet creations. After the death of Josef Holzermayr Sr. in December 1912, his son Josef Holzermayr Jr. followed in his footsteps and, as a confectioner, took over the continuation of the business. Josef Holzermayr Jr. learned the confectioner’s craft from his father. Rudolf Holzermayr, the elder of the two brothers, supported the expansion of the coffeehouse and bakery through investments. At the same time, he ran an import and export business in overseas honey. Rudolf Holzermayr was also responsible for purchasing raw materials. As a wholesale confectionery merchant, he sourced some of the goods from abroad and supplied not only the company’s own business but also patisseries in the city and the state of Salzburg. Among the most popular products were gingerbread, wax figures, chocolates, candied fruits, the finest confectionery, lollipops, jams and dessert pastries, as well as the Salzburg Mozartkugel.
With great diligence, his wife Lisa Holzermayr and his sister Maria Holzermayr managed the local shops in Salzburg’s Old Town. The traditional confectionery wholesale business represented another important pillar of the company. From Salzburg, they supplied confectioneries, confectioners, gingerbread bakers, and specialty confectionery shops with exquisite specialties. The focus was on high-quality chocolate, both for artisanal further processing and for resale. Rudolf Holzermayr was also an importer of Swiss chocolate from Lindt & Sprüngli at that time. Im ersten Weltkrieg war Holzermayr für den Vertrieb der begehrten Kriegsschokolade bekannt, diese wurde zunehmend zum militärischem Proviant und dem Symbol der Unterstützung aus der Heimat.
The Salzburg Mozartkugel specialty – Rudolf Baumann – Louise Karuth & Co – Josef Holzermayr as the business successor at Alter Markt in Salzburg’s Old Town.
In 1919, Rudolf Holzermayr relocated his business to its present location, Alter Markt 7, then still known as Ludwig Viktorplatz – directly opposite the traditional Café Tomaselli. There, he took over the confectionery from the retired Louise Karuth, including the specialty “Salzburger Mozartkugel,” whose origin traces back to the business of Rudolf Baumann, who had already handed over his trade to his long-standing and proven employees in 1888. Rudolf Holzermayr’s wholesale confectionery business had already been the main supplier for many years, including to Karuth & Co, of raw materials such as chocolate, which were further processed there.
From the namesake of the Mozartkugel: Rudolf Baumann – in the tradition of 1880.
The Salzburg confectioner Rudolf Baumann is considered the earliest verifiable producer and marketer of the Salzburg Mozartkugel. He offered them as “finest chocolate bonbons” and was the first to give them the name by which they are still known today. Under the leadership of Rudolf Holzermayr and his brother Josef Holzermayr Jr., the Salzburg Mozartkugel was firmly integrated into the product range. They were supported by Lisa and Maria Holzermayr. Today, the Salzburg Mozartkugel presents itself as a fine composition of pistachio marzipan, nougat, and chocolate, traditionally wrapped in silver-blue tinfoil with Mozart’s image. At Confiserie Josef Holzermayr, this tradition is maintained to this day.
A classic with character.
The Genuine Salzburger Mozartkugel is known for a balanced, classic taste experience at the highest level of the art of confectionery and therefore clearly stands out from comparable products. In production today, the use of palm oil is deliberately avoided—out of conviction and with the commitment to use only the very best ingredients. Also, alcohol is not used in the recipe to enable an intercultural and cross-generational enjoyment.
Strong women in difficult times.
Maria Holzermayr, the owner’s sister, is particularly remembered for her dedicated and self-sacrificing management of the business during the difficult years of the First World War and the crisis years from 1927 to 1933. For over 60 years, she dedicated herself to the company’s survival and, after the Second World War, significantly contributed through her good relations with the US armed forces to ensuring that both the supply of the population and the business itself functioned smoothly.
Expansion and succession.
After the death of Rudolf Holzermayr in 1944, his wife Lisa Holzermayr took over Alter Markt 7 and the confectionery wholesale business as a widow’s continuation of the business. In 1967, Felix Holzermayr established a new company with an independent confectionery wholesale business at Kaigasse 10. Son Felix Holzermayr now supplied specialist shops, confectioners, and merchants with the house’s hallmark: the specialty “Salzburger Mozartkugel.”
The sixth generation.
Today, the company is run by the family in its sixth generation. After Elisabeth Rossmann (née Holzermayr), her daughter Gabriele Truschner-Rossmann took over the management and continues the over 160-year-old confectionery tradition with great care with her son Alexander.
