St. Rupert, Salzburg, Austria

Statue of St. Rupert, Salzburg, Austria

St. Rupert is the patron saint of Salzburg and a 7th century missionary of the royal Merovingian blood. After being kicked out of Worms by unbelievers in 697, Rupert wended his way to the Roman town of Juvavum – then in ruins – and set about promoting its salt mines. Fed by the demand for salt to preserve food, Salzburg prospered, imposing tolls on barges that used the Salzach River as a medieval highway.

You can distinguish Rupert from the other saints by the salt barrel that he keeps close to his feet. The city holds a local fair every September to celebrate his feast day.