Hofburg Palace
The real pearl of Austria is the architectural palace complex of Hofburg. This is one of the largest palaces in the world. In the form that visitors can see it now, it was not created immediately, but was built over several centuries. The main palace of the Austrian Empire, although associated with the era of rule of the Habsburg dynasty, its age is much more solid.
History of the palace
The history of the Hofburg Palace began in the Middle Ages, when at the end of the XIII century it began to be built on the site of a small castle. Since then, some changes have been made to it, and each of the rulers of Austria has completed new premises. So you can see the architectural history of styles that have changed over 7 centuries. The palace is attractive in that way - a mixture of styles: Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Ampirus, elements of classicism. This is truly a collection of architectural ensembles that were built by the best masters from the 13th to the 19th centuries. For about 600 years, Hofburg served as the winter residence of the powerful monarch of the Habsburg dynasty. Significant historical events took place here.
After the overthrow of the monarchical system in 1918, the complex passed into state ownership, Now the building serves as the official representation of the Austrian president, and other government agencies are also located here. The other part is open as museums where you can touch history and see the richest exposures. Hofburg has become a giant palace complex, which can be called a city in the city.
The entire Hofburg palace complex covers an area of 240 thousand square meters. It has 19 courtyard ( in which the Vienna Riding School, the chapel library and more ), 18 buildings, 2600 rooms are located. In one of the oldest parts of the palace, the royal chapel, built in the 13th century, there is a court chapel. On Sunday services, singing, created 400 years ago, of the famous Vienna Boys Choir, numbering about 100 people, sounds here. Excursions include 3 tour options: visiting the Imperial Apartments, the Elizabeth of Bavarian Museum ( Sisi ), Silver Collection. Each of the excursions can be visited separately, or included in one complex tour.
Imperial apartments
Inside, almost nothing has changed since the time when Franz Joseph and his wife walked around the palace. There are 24 rooms. Among the main objects of the apartments stands a Dining Room, decorated with canvases of Flemish masters, which depict the exploits of Herakl, and a Round Room decorated with elegant tapestries. In the audience hall of the emperor’s reception - a large audience, you can consider the luxurious chandelier from Bohemian Czech transparent crystal. She creates a play of light with jewelry made of gold and precious stones. In the emperor’s office there is a bust of the court Austrian commander Joseph Radetsky, who looks like the emperor at any time, without recording.
Sisi Museum
Sisi called Elizabeth of Bavarian in narrow circles. The museum was opened in 2005, on the 150th anniversary of its wedding with Emperor Franz Joseph I. She is dedicated to 19 halls and living rooms in which the Empress's personal belongings are exhibited: her dresses for special occasions, everyday dresses, cosmetics, jewelry, hats, hair accessories, chic fans, pebble gloves, umbrellas and more. Here you can see the fateful outfits of the empress: the dresses in which she came to Austria, the outfit in which she crowned, and a copy of the black dress in which the empress was dressed on the day of death.
Silver Chamber
Here is a rich collection of dishes of silver, gold, porcelain, glass.. This dish was served by the table of Austrian emperors and the richest tables during the reception of guests. Everything presented here was made on the most famous European manufactures. And although the collection is called silver, there is not so much silver here, since in those days there were silver coins in use. Therefore, metal was used for other purposes more than in dishes. But there is a lot of gold. In addition to dishes and crystal glass glasses made with different grinding, the museum displays samples of washable devices made of white with gold trimming of Bohemian porcelain.
Treasurer
A special place, in the oldest part of Hofburg, is occupied by the Treasurer. In 21 rooms, priceless exhibits are stored. This is the bottom of the richest collections in the world. Family jewelry of the Habsburg dynasty, symbols of imperial power, religious artifacts and much more are exhibited here. Among them: the sword of Charles the Great, imperial crowns, ancient keys for ceremonies, the cradle of Napoleon’s son, the jewelry of Elizabeth of Bavarian, a coronation dress, a fragment of the tablecloth from the Last Supper, a coronation handwritten Gospel. Within the walls of the palace complex you can visit the Library, the Spanish Riding School, the court kitchen, the collection of ancient musical instruments, the weapons chamber and much more. For those who love history, visiting this place is simply necessary. This is an excursion into the historical past of Hofburg, immersion in the romantic atmosphere of the 19th century.
