Blue Danube: Tourist attractions in Vienna : Hofburg

The Hofburg Palace in Vienna is one of the most important centers of European history as the residence of the Austrian sovereigns for more than 600 years. Hofburg Palace has housed Habsburg dynasty since 13th century, as the rulers of Austrian lands, as emperors of the Holy Roman Empire from 1452, as the emperor of Austria (1804–1867) and finally as the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1918. Currently it is the official residence of the Austrian President.

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Although it was a medieval four-towered fortress in the 13th century, the Hofburg developed by numerous architects during six centuries, into one of the great palatial complexes of Europe. The complex extends over 240,000 m², consists of 18 wings, 19 courtyards, more than 2500 rooms and also several museums and collections, Imperial Library, riding school, horse stables and etc.

map from Wikipedia

1- Swiss wing

>>>Treasury

>>> Imperial Court Chapel

2a- Augustinian Church

2b- Augustinian monastery

3- Stallburg

4- Amalienburg

5- Leopold wing

>>> Offices of the Austrian President

6- Redouten Wing (Redoutensäle)

7- Spanish Riding School

8- Austrian National Library

>>> State Hall

>>> Augustinian Reading Room

9- Augustinian Wing

10- Palais Erzherzog Albrecht

>>> Albertina

>>> Austrian Cinematheque

11- Imperial Chancellory Wing

12- Festsaal wing (Hofburg Congress Center)

13- St. Michael's Wing

>>> Imperial Apartments

>>> Silver Collection

>>> Sisi Museum

14- Neue Burg

>>> Austrian National Library

>>> Papyrus Museum

>>> Ephesus Museum

>>> Collection of Ancient Musical Instruments

>>> Collection of Arms and Armor

15- Museum of Ethnology

16- Butterfly House & Palm House

A- In der Burg

B- Ballhausplatz

C- Michaelerplatz

D- Swiss Court

E- Josefsplatz

F- Albertinaplatz

G- Burggarten

H- Heldenplatz

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The Neue Burg wing is the most recent addition to the Hofburg complex and was built from 1881 to 1913 as the residence of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination at Sarajevo by Serbian nationalists led to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war against Serbia and finally World War I. The Neue Burg currently houses a number of museums (the Ephesus Museum, the Collection of Arms and Armor, the Collection of Ancient Musical Instruments, and the Museum of Ethnology) as well as the reading rooms of the Austrian National Library and the Hofburg Congress Center.

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The Heldenplatz (Heroes' Square) is the outer plaza of the Hofburg and was built under the reign of Emperor Francis Joseph, as part of what was to become the Kaiserforum (imperial forum), but never finished. On the Heroes' Square, there are the two equestrian statues of Prince Eugene of Savoy and Archduke Charles of Austria, the two Austrian field marshals. Many important actions took place here. The most famous one is Adolf Hitler's announcement of the Anschluss, annexation of Austria into the Nazi German from the balcony of the Neue Burg On March 15, 1938.

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Heldenplaz is separated from the Ringstraße in the southwest, by the Äußeres Burgtor (Outer Castle Gate). Äußeres Burgtor is the main entrance gate to the Heldenplaz completed in 1824 by Peter Nobile. The gate consist of five giant wooden doors and on the both facades of it, there are scripts written on the top. In the Ringstraße side, "FRANCISCUS I. IMPERATOR AUSTRIA MDCCCXXIV" which means Francis I Emperor of Austria 1824, and in the Heldenplaz side "IUSTITIA REGNORUM FUNDAMENTUM" (Justice is the foundation of the rule) which was the motto of Emperor Franz I of Austria, are of note. Inside the gate, there are monuments dedicated to the victims of the two World Wars and those who lost their lives in fight for freedom in Austria.

Photo by Wojtek Szkutnik

Photo by Francisco Antunes

Swiss Wing
The oldest part of the Hofburg is the Alte Burg (Old Fortress), which has remained from the primary medieval fortress complex. Since the 18th century, this part has been called the Schweizertrakt (Swiss Wing) which is a reference to the Swiss mercenaries who served as the palace watch or as bodyguards for Emperor Franz Stephan. This wing houses the Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer), in which, the Imperial Insignia of the Holy Roman Empire (Reichskleinodien) and the Empire of Austria are kept. Swiss wing also includes a Gothic chapel (Burgkapelle) from the fifteenth century, in which the Vienna Boys' Choir still sings on Sundays in it.

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The Swiss Court yard (Schweizerhof) was built during the reign of Emperor Ferdinand I in the style of the Renaissance. Its famous red-black Gate (Schweizertor) was built in 1552 and displays the many titles of Emperor Ferdinand I and the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece (Vliesordens). The Swiss Wing also houses the Knight's Hall (Rittersaal), Antekammer which were originally part of one of the towers of the old fortress, and the Radetzky Appartements, where was the residence of the Field Marshal Radetzky. Also a well (Schweizerhofbrunnen), located in one side of the gate which was built in 1552. The lower section of this wing once accommodated the imperial kitchen.

Photo by Wojtek Szkutnik

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Photo by Ramón Cutanda

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The Amalienburg was erected during the 16th century as the residence of Emperor Rudolph II in the style of the late Renaissance. However, this structure is named after Empress Wilhelmine Amalia, who used it as her residence after the death of her husband, Emperor Joseph I. Of note is the small tower with its dome and the astronomical clock on its facade.

Photo by Wojtek Szkutnik

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Leopold Wing, the connection between the Amalienburg and the Swiss Court, was built between 1668 and 1680 in the time of Emperor Leopold I. It was occupied by Empress Maria Theresa during the 18th century and after that the rooms were used mostly as state rooms. From 1946 until now it has housed the offices of the Austrian Federal President. Visiting inside the Austrian President's office is possible on 26th October, Austria’s National Day.

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Imperial Chancellory Wing - Reichskanzleitrakt
The seat of the Aulic Council (Reichshofrat), which was an executive-judicial council for the Holy Roman Empire, was in this wing. The Aulic Council was composed of a president, a vice-president, a vice-chancellor, and 18 Councillors, who were all chosen and paid by the Emperor, with the exception of the vice-chancellor, who was appointed by the Elector of Mainz, which was one of the seven Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire. The Imperial Chancellery Wing (Reichskanzleitrakt) accommodated, in addition to the Aulic Council, the offices of the Imperial Vice Chancellor (Reichsvizekanzler). After the end of the Holy Roman Empire, this wing was used as residence of the Duke of Reichstadt (Napoleon II) and later Emperor Francis Joseph I.

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Prunksaal is a free-standing structure on the south-west side of the Joseph Square (Josefsplatz), founded by Emperor Karl VI as the Imperial Library (Hofbibliothek). After 1920 its name has changed to the current name, Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek). The other entrance to the National library is from Neuburg on Heldenplaz. Of note is the equestrian statue of Emperor Joseph II at the center of Joseph Square.
On the south-east side of Josefsplatz stands the Augustinian Wing. It completely conceals the west facade of St. Augustine's Church, which was used by the Habsburgs as their court church and also for weddings.

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Stallburg
In 1559 work started on the Imperial Stables (Stallburg) of the Hofburg as a new residence for the prince Maximilian II. Ferdinand I (Holy Roman Emperor) decided not to house his son under his roof, because his religious attitude caused some uneasiness to his father. This structure later accommodated the art collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm and formed the core of the later Kunsthistorisches Museum. Since the 18th century this part of the palace has contained the stables of the famous Lipizzan horses and even today it is still used by the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule).

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St. Michael's Wing
The St. Michael's Wing was planned by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, and it serves as the connection between the Winter Riding School and the Imperial Chancellery Wing. Under the St. Michael's Wing Dome, there is the entrance to the Spanish Riding School on one side and entrance to The Imperial Apartments, Sisi Museum and the Imperial Silver Collection on the other side.

Photo by korom

Redouten Wing
On the north side of the Josefsplatz, located the Redouten Wing, where the Redoutensäle are placed. Redoutensäle (the Große and the Kleine Redoutensaal) were originally built as an opera house in 1705, but with the order of Maria Theresia In 1748, they were redesigned and converted into beautiful dance and concert Halls. The name is derived from the French word "redoute", meaning a masked ball, and such balls were also held there. Many musical events took place in Maria Theresia’s elegant ballroom. Ludwig van Beethoven’s 8th Symphony premiered here. Johann Strauss served as musical director to the court for the balls, and the audience was treated to music by Joseph Haydn, Nicolo Paganini and Franz Liszt. The composers Josef Strauss and Franz Liszt conducted concerts in these glamorous halls, and a number of smaller Mozart operas were performed here. In 1992 the Redouten Wing destroyed by fire. The reconstruction lasted five years. Some parts were restored to the original form and other parts were renovated and furnished with modern technical equipment for conventions. The Großer Redoutensaal was designed by the Austrian painter Josef Mikl.

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HOFBURG Vienna - Convention Center
In September 1958 parts of the Hofburg were opened to the public as convention center. Every year HOFBURG Vienna is hosting about 300 to 350 events with more than 320,000 guests. Among the events are conventions and meetings as well as banquets, trade fairs, concerts and balls. In addition to this HOFBURG Vienna is the permanent conference seat of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe). HOFBURG Vienna is managed by a private company since 1969.

Text Source: wikipedia.org

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Tourist attractions in Vienna : Hofburg