The Hofburg (Imperial Palace, German title: Kaiserliche Hofburg) - the former Imperial Palace, located on the outskirts of the old town of Innsbruck.
Hofburg is one of the main buildings of a larger complex, once erected by Tyrolean rulers, which in a broad sense also includes the following objects: the Hofkirche court church, the Tyrolean Museum of Folk Art and the current nearby: Hofgarten Park, Theological University, Cathedral and Congress.
Hofburg
The Hofburg is one of the three most significant cultural buildings in Austria, the other two: the schönbrunn Palace and the Hofburg in Vienna.
The Palace was built on the site once occupied by the wall fortifications and towers of the medieval town, part of which was integrated into the structure of the Palace.
The history of the Palace started in 1446, after the Archduke Sigismund of Habsburg family became the ruler of Tyrol and bought a few houses and a variety of horticultural holdings in the area. In 1453, began the construction of the Palace. In 1463 in the main hall of the Palace held a Banquet in honor of the construction of the residence.
Later, during the history, the Palace was repeatedly expanded and restored, changing their appearance.
Under Emperor Maximilian I, the castle was expanded and supplemented with "Back lock" and the Heraldic tower. It was under Maximilian I, Vienna was built in the late Gothic style was considered the most beautiful and important secular building of the era.
Under Emperor Ferdinand I. the reconstruction and expansion of 1520-30 years created a closed complex of buildings with walled courtyards. A separate building in the South-West, West and North were combined into a single exterior facade. Large and small courtyards of the castle kitchen and the yard received its final dimensions.
When Archduke Ferdinand II took office, the Hofburg took on a new, serious design of the Renaissance castle in the Italian style, with painted facades in the courtyards.
The Empress Maria Theresa had done a lot of restructuring, and the Palace complex acquired a Baroque appearance.
The last major reconstruction of the Imperial apartments of the Palace (second floor) was held in 1858, when Hoborg was modeled with Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna.
Currently, Hofburg is a complex of four-storey buildings (the wings of the Palace) with white main facade, round towers, an inner courtyard, rooms and halls, a Gothic cellar and a chapel.
The inner courtyard of the Hofburg
In the walls of the Imperial Palace hold receptions, gala dinners, exhibitions, presentations and events involving senior individuals.
The Palace is a Museum, the jewel of which is the main hall (Ball room) with frescoes on the ceiling and huge chandeliers.
Opening hours of the Museum of the Imperial Palace: Monday-Sunday (except holidays) from 09:00 to 17:00, entrance until 16:30 hours.
Tickets cost: adults €9,50, concessions €7, child free with the Innsbruck Card - free. Tickets can be purchased at the Museum ticket office, located in the Hofburg.
Website: hofburg-innsbruck.
The Hofkirche
The Hofkirche is the former Imperial court Church, a member of the Palace ensemble.
This Gothic Church is considered the best in Innsbruck. The Church and the adjacent Franciscan monastery was built in the period 1553-1563 years by Emperor Ferdinand I as a memorial of his grandfather the Emperor Maximilian I.
In the walls of the Church is a ceremonial tomb - Cenotaph (no body inside, only serve for memory and as a sign of honor) Maximilian I. Exquisite black marble Cenotaph occupies the center of the nave of the Church and is surrounded by 28 huge black bronze statues of ancestors, relatives and heroes of the contemporaries of the Emperor. For this reason, the Church is also called Church "Black people".
In fact, the Maximilian is buried in Wiener Neustadt.
Within the walls of the church lie some famous personalities: Andreas Hofer, his grandson Joseph, Katharina Loxane, as well as the graves of Archduke Ferdinand II and his wife Philippines Welser.
Other attractions in the Hofkirche include: Silver chapel, which contains a silver altar to Mary, with three elephant tusks and three hundred kilos of ebony; on the Renaissance (1560), belongs to jörg Ebert Stiftung and the high altar, designed in 1755, the Viennese court architect Nikolaus Pacassi and decorated with a crucifixion.
Hofkirche Address: Universitätsstraße 2.
The entrance to the Church paid: adult ticket - € 7, discounted - € 5, children and adolescents up to 19 years - free with the Innsbruck Card - free, combined ticket with Museum - € 11. Tickets can be purchased in a nearby adjacent building, the Tyrolean folk art Museum. On certain days the entrance to the Church is free, through the main portal.
Site: tiroler-landesmuseen.
Tyrolean folk art Museum
To the left wall from the main portal Hofkirche adjacent historic building, the Tyrolean folk art Museum (Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum), located in the walls of the former Franciscan monastery around an arcade courtyard.
The Renaissance building with well-preserved monastery was built along with the Hofkirche and was used until 1785 as the Franciscan monastery, and then mainly as a school and since 1929, is home to the Museum of Tyrolean regional heritage.
Tyrolean folk art Museum are several restored rooms, wood-panelled epochs of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque.
The Museum contains important collection of cultural artifacts from the local traditions of the Tyrol. The Museum's collections include peasant Handicrafts and local items, including home: utensils, wood and wax; painted chests, tools, and den; ceramic and colorful traditional costumes, illustrating the diversity of the region and Tyrolean culture.
The Museum's site: tiroler-landesmuseen.
Theological University
The old building of the University.
The Western part of the building with a corner crest was built in 1562 during the construction of the Innsbruck Jesuit College, including the Church of St. Salvator about 1499. The Eastern part were built prior to 1672 - 1673 years after the construction of the Church of the Jesuits (the Foundation was laid about 1627). In 1776, the University moved.
The theological faculty of the University of Innsbruck is located at the address: street Universitatstrasse, 6 (Universitätsstraße).
The Hofgarten Park
The Hofgarten or court garden (Court Garden, German title: Hofgarten) is a protected zone and is located near the Hofburg Palace and the lower station of the funicular and cable cars Nordkette.
The Hofgarten was originally laid on the site of river meadows under the leadership of Archduke Ferdinand II in the sixteenth century. At that time it was one of the most difficult gardens, laid out North of the Alps.
Over its 600-year history it was turned into a garden of the Renaissance, French formal garden and, since 1858 - the English landscape garden.
Currently, the Park is a recreational area in the historic centre of Innsbruck with lots of greenery, children's Playground, a palm house and a Tyrolean arts pavilion, which dates back to 1733 and in which today through various events, mostly concerts and chess tournaments.
The entrance to the Park is free (free).
Congress
The building Congress is a pavilion for events, opposite the Hofgarten Park and the covered arch through the passages adjacent to the wing of the Hofburg Palace.
The building was built on the site of two sports halls (room for ball games on princely territories) as the court theatre. The structure was destroyed during the Second world war. In 1973 there was built the Congress building, which includes the preserved surrounding walls.
Address building: street Rennweg 3.
In the alley between the Park and the Congress building are awaiting their passengers in horse-drawn carts, where you can explore the centre of Innsbruck.
Cost of walks: 30 minutes - 30 Euro; 1 hour - 55 euros.
Cathedral
Or Cathedral of St. James (Jacob), also known as Innsbruck Cathedral (Dom zu St. Jakom) is the main Catholic Church of the city.
The appearance of the Cathedral is rather modest and austere. However, unlike the exterior, the interior of the Cathedral has a beautiful Baroque interior, where bright colors play marble, frescoes and stucco, hosting sculptures and sculptural compositions.
The Cathedral is located at the address: Domplatz 6. Read more about Cathedral of St. James...
The area near the Palace complex of the Hofburg
The Hofburg and the Hofkirche is located in the streets of Rennweg and Universitätsstraße, which near the palatial complex form an open space - the area near the Hofburg Palace.
On the square:
- a concert hall "House of music" (Haus der Musik), which is a multifunctional building, built and opened in 2018 on the site of the former city hall.
In the house of music are halls for events, there is a space for various cultural, musical and educational centers.
The website of the concert hall: haus-der-musik-innsbruck;
- Tyrolean state theatre (Tiroler Landestheater), with a capacity of about 800 seats.
The history of theatre originates from 1629. In 1654 a new house built by Christoph Hamptom, was opened on the other side of Rennweg, exactly where now stands the State theatre. Court theatre was reconstructed in 1765 and rebuilt due to disrepair in the years 1844-1846, and then expanded.
During the Bavarian occupation of Innsbruck, the theater was called the Bavarian Royal national theatre.
The repertoire of the theatre: drama, Opera, operetta, musicals and dance performances.
The website of the theatre:landestheater;
- a historical monument - the fountain of Leopold (Leopold V fountain), which is decorated with the sculptural composition, Central to which is the equestrian statue of Archduke Leopold V, who lived from 1586 to 1632 and gave the fountain its name.
The fountain was built by Leopold V between 1622 and 1630 years as a symbol of his power and authority. However, only in 1893, the fountain got its present appearance;
- a bronze sculpture by Rudi wach, 2003.
To the square outside the main facade of the complex of the residence of the Tyrolean rulers, through the arched covered walkways, are narrow streets of the old town of Innsbruck.
Where to stay near Imperial Palace
4-star hotel Grauer Bär with a panoramic swimming pool on the 6th floor, Spa centre, 2 restaurants and a bar.
The Woodfire restaurant serves steak specialities, including aged beef.
Room rates include Breakfast. Link to the hotel
4-star hotel Schwarzer Adler Innsbruck, located in a historic building 1511 building in the centre of Innsbruck.
In the hotel: a Spa in the style of Swarovski, free Wi-Fi, a restaurant, a bar, a rooftop terrace with views of Innsbruck, a relaxation area, sauna, steam bath, swimming pool and Solarium.
In rooms: air conditioning, mini-bar, TV with cable channels and a bathroom with a Hairdryer. Some rooms have a balcony offering views of the surrounding mountains. Link to the hotel
Apartments Daxburg Apartments with garden views, free Wi-Fi and storage space for skis.
The apartmentshave a Seating area with a sofa, a dining area, an equipped kitchenette with a dishwasher, refrigerator and stove, bathroom with shower, Hairdryer and free toiletries. The link apartments
Kaiser Max Design apartments with free Wi-Fi, a restaurant and wine bar on site.
In the apartment: safety Deposit box, cable TV, equipped kitchen with crockery, Cutlery, fridge, oven, stove, dishwasher, microwave and kettle, bathroom with modern shower. The link apartments
All accommodation in Innsbruck, including the nearby Imperial Palace and old town, you can view and book here
