Hofburg palace in Vienna

The Hofburg (“Castle of the Court”) is the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty in Austria. Located in the center of Vienna, it was built in the 13th century by Ottokar II of Bohemia and expanded several times afterwards. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence. Since 1946, it has been the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria. Since 1279, the Hofburg area has been the documented seat of government. The Hofburg has been expanded over the centuries to include various residences, the imperial chapel, the imperial library, the treasury, the Burgtheater, the Spanish Riding School and the imperial mews. During the expansion of the Hofburg, many architects designed its buildings. Among them were the Italian engineer and architect Filiberto Luchese, Lodovico Burnacini, and Domenico Carlone. Baroque masters Lucas von Hildebrandt and the brothers Johann and Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach also contributed. Talented architects also contributed to the construction of the Neue Burg, built from 1881 to 1913. Overview Swiss Wing The oldest parts of the palace date back to the 13th century. They were built by the last members of the Babenberger dynasty, including Ottokar II of Bohemia. Originally, the castle was square, with four towers. It was surrounded by a moat with a drawbridge at the entrance. Today, these ancient fragments form the Swiss Court (Schweizerhof). It houses the Gothic chapel (Burgkapelle), built in the 15th century, and the treasury (Schatzkammer). The Swiss Gate bears numerous titles of Ferdinand I. Leopoldine Wing The connection between the Amalienburg and the Swiss Court is the Leopoldine Wing (Leopoldinischer Flügel). It was built in the 1660s under Emperor Leopold I and thus named after him. The architect was Filiberto Lucchese. After the Siege of 1683 by the Turks, Giovanni Pietro Tencala rebuild the wing with an additional floor installed. Through its architecture, this wing still bears a connection to the Late Renaissance. It is in this wing that the offices of the Federal President are located. Court Library Originally a free-standing structure, the Court Library (Hofbibliothek) was on the other side of the complex. Today it is under the auspices of the Austrian National Library. Its construction began by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and finished by his son Joseph Emanuel in 1735. Augustinian Wing Built right before the adjacent Court Library, on the south-east side of Joseph Square, lies the baroque Augustinian Wing with the Augustinian church and monastery. As the palace expanded, the church and monastery became an integral part of the building. Habsburgs used the Augustinian Church as their court church and also for weddings. This is where Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth, were married. Redoute Wing Empress Maria Theresia had a 17th-century opera house converted into the dance and concert halls now known as the Redoutensäle, which consists of a small and a large hall. Together with a number of smaller antechambers they form the Redoute Wing. Stallburg Although not connected to the rest of the complex, the imperial mews (Stallburg) of the Hofburg originally served as a residence for the then crown prince, Maximilian. During the Baroque era, the court converted the residence to accommodate the imperial horses on the ground floor. Today, the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule) uses the building. St. Michael’s Wing Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach also planned St. Michael’s Wing, and it serves as the connection between the Winter Riding School and the Imperial Chancellery Wing. However, because the old Imperial Court Theatre (Burgtheater) stood in the way, these plans remained unrealized until Ferdinand Kirschner built the wing from 1889 to 1893, utilizing a slightly altered plan. Heroes Square In 1809, French military troops demolished part of the old bastion adjacent to the palace during the Napoleonic Wars. They laid out new grounds extending to the present Ring Road and integrated the neoclassical main castle gate (Burgtor) into them. Within the new walls erected in 1817, planners created three gardens: the private Imperial Castle Garden (Burggarten), Heroes Square (Heldenplatz) as a large open, green area, and the People’s Garden (Volksgarten). Sisi museum The Sisi Museum chronicles the life of the Austrian-Hungarian Empress Elisabeth, known as Sisi. The exhibition explores her personal passions, her rebellion against court tradition, her pursuit of beauty, her athletic achievements, her travels, and her poetic inspiration. From her carefree childhood in Bavaria to her sudden engagement to the Austrian Emperor and her tragic death in Geneva in 1898, the museum tells the story of the vibrant and turbulent life of this legendary woman. The museum is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM. Adult admission costs €20 and children €12. Transport Near the Heldentor Royal Gate, there’s the Burgring tram stop (lines 1, 2, 71, and D). The Museumsquartier U2 station is an eight-minute walk away. The Michaelerplatz bus stop, served by lines 1A and 2A, is also a five-minute walk away. See also France travel guide Spain travel guide Catalonia travel guide Pyrenees travel guideThe post Hofburg palace in Vienna first appeared on All PYRENEES.