The Golden roof or simply the Golden roof of Innsbruck (Goldenes Dachl) is one of the oldest buildings in Innsbruck, the facade of which is a Bay window, called the "Golden roof".
The Golden roof is one of the most famous sights of Innsbruck, along with the City tower and the column of St. Anne, located close to the symbol of the city.
The Golden roof is located in the hysterical centre of Innsbruck, on the square near the pedestrian street, the street the Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 15.
The building was built in 1420 as a residence ("Neuhof") for the Tyrolean sovereigns, originally Duke Frederick IV.
When Emperor Maximilian I at the turn of the XV and XVI centuries, the house was attached to a gold Bay window in the late Gothic style with a raised "Royal balcony" ("the Royal loggia"), designed for the Imperial family. In those days, the Bay window also was a symbol of wealth and noble family, and, in addition, had to make an impression on travellers who crossed late medieval Innsbruck and Central transalpine route. From the balcony of the nobility could comfortably observe the center of the city, as well as tournament, gala and other events held in the square.
The construction of the balcony was timed to the day of the second wedding of the Emperor with Maria Bianca Sforza.
The Bay window is covered with 2 567 gilded copper tiles, which gave the name to the Bay window - the "Golden roof". The balcony was designed by architect Nikolaus Base.
In addition to the gilded tiles of the Bay window attracts attention with paintings and reliefs, consisting of scenes from the life of the Emperor. The reliefs depicted the coats of arms and historical events, including Maximilian I with two spouses, the Chancellor, the jester and the dancer of Morisco. Relief plates in the Bay window are copies that have replaced the originals in the middle of the last century. Six of them - completely restored, can be seen in the Museum of the Golden roof.
Jacob Hutter (Jakob Hutter), a Baptist preacher, was publicly burned alive in front of the Golden roof February 25, 1536 (during the reign of Archduke Ferdinand, the grandson of Maximilian I).
In 1996, in a building with a Golden roof Museum was opened Maximilian, who, after an extensive expansion and renovation, was reopened in 2007 as the Museum of the Golden roof (Goldenes Dachl Museum), the exhibition which tells about the reign of Maximilian I and the history of Tyrol in the Middle ages.
The Museum is open to visitors at present. Museum website: innsbruck.gv.at.
The permanent Secretariat of the Alpine Convention is located in the same building since 2003.
All accommodation facilities in Innsbruck you can view and book here
