After months of legal battles and negotiations, the future of the massive concrete star artwork located on Krauthügel hill beneath Salzburg's fortress has been decided. The 200-ton sculpture will be relocated to Saalfelden in the Pinzgau region, marking the end of a complex dispute over environmental permits and public art placement.
The relocation became necessary because the environmental protection permits for the monumental star, situated in the Krauthügel landscape protection area directly below the fortress, expired this year after more than seven years. The star was created by American artist Paul Wallach and was installed in 2018 as part of a project by the now-dissolved Salzburg Foundation, which had been responsible for placing various artworks in public spaces throughout the state capital, including the famous golden sphere on Kapitelplatz.
The concrete star, measuring 40 by 45 meters, faced challenges from the very beginning due to its location in the middle of a protected landscape area. This placement required temporary special permits, which were granted on a limited basis. When these permits expired during the summer, it became clear that the artwork had to be removed from its original location.
Finding a suitable new location for the massive sculpture proved to be extremely difficult. The artistic effect of the horizontal sculpture is best appreciated when placed on an open meadow, but identifying an appropriate meadow site presented significant legal and logistical challenges. The sheer size and weight of the artwork—200 tons of concrete spread across nearly 2,000 square meters—further complicated the relocation process.
The solution came through Hotel Gut Brandlhof near Saalfelden, which gained considerable attention this year for hosting football training camps, including one featuring superstar Cristiano Ronaldo's team Al-Nassr. The hotel's owners have been expanding their conference center facilities and agreed to provide space for the relocated artwork on their property.
The dismantling process is scheduled to begin next week in Salzburg, after which the 200 tons of concrete will be transported to the Pinzgau region. This relocation represents not only a practical solution to the permit problem but also ensures that Paul Wallach's significant artistic work will continue to be accessible to the public in its new Alpine setting.
