The Staatsbrücke ("State Bridge") is the most important and most prominent bridge in Salzburg. It links the Altstadt (Old Town) on both sides of the Salzach River between the Rudolfskai/Altes Rathaus and the Platzl/Linzergasse area. The site of the Staatsbrücke has been occupied by bridges for a very long time. In fact, the current Staatsbrücke is already the 10th bridge here.

The first bridge recorded for this site was destroyed in a flood in 1090. The second bridge suffered the same fate in 1316. The third bridge was made of stone in the 14th century and was more refined than the previous two bridges; it had a roof. The fourth bridge might have been an upgrade of the previous one with the roof; it contained several shops and market stalls, alongside with the toll office of the Prince Archbishop.