Hofburg is a palace and park ensemble that cannot be missed during a tourist trip to Vienna: 19 palaces, 18 different buildings of different times and different rulers created a whole quarter that is amazing, surprising and pleasing. The current residence of the President of Austria is located here, but, despite this, numerous halls are open for tourists - you can spend all day on excursions in Hofburg.
Short story
The first building, which became the basis of the Hofburg, is mentioned in documents from 1279 - it was obviously built earlier and represented by a medieval castle. Next to this building is the 15th century chapel, the emperor’s treasury, and other medieval buildings.
Almost all the representatives of the Habsburg dynasty lived in Hofburg: each of its representatives expanded and developed the complex, many rulers bought the neighboring estates and houses, after which demolished them and built new buildings of the Hofburg. The highlights were:
- The construction of the Swiss gate by Ferdinand I
- Stable construction by Maximilian II
- Adding a wing to the Empress’s bedroom during the reign of Rudolph II
- The creation of wine cellars by Leopold I
- The construction of the Spanish Manege by Charles VI
- The construction of the Burgtheater by Maria Theresa
- The creation of a square with a statue of the emperor on a horse by Joseph II.
Franz Joseph expanded the complex after the demolition of the city wall in the middle of the 19th century: the luxurious “New Castle” was designed and built. The plans were to create an imperial forum of colossal proportions, but they could not be realized due to the outbreak of the First World War.
Complex Features
Hofburg buildings combine different styles: Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance, Empire, neo-Empire. The main objects of interest are:
- Silver chamber: demonstrates imperial luxury - porcelain and silver cutlery, included in the famous service, occupy a 30-meter table
- Sissy Museum: it will introduce the life of Empress Sissi, who was distinguished by a rejection of imperial etiquette, a love of exercise, and authorship of depressive poems - the museum was opened in 2005
- Imperial apartments: tourists will visit 19 rooms and bedrooms, which are exact copies of the imperial rooms of different eras.
Interesting Facts
- The interior of Hofburg is very modest in comparison with Schönbrunn and a number of other imperial residences
- In 1912, an “office” building was built opposite the Mikhailovsky wing, which is distinguished by its simplicity and lack of ornaments - this angered the emperor, who henceforth began to travel through other gates so as not to see the building opposite
- In 1938, Hitler, being on the balcony of the New Castle, announced the Anschluss
- Admission to the Hofburg costs 16 € for an adult, 11 € for a child, admission for the youngest visitors under 6 years old is free.
