History - Originally a medieval castle, the Hofburg (Hof = court + Burg = castle) has been subject to constant change, construction, and expansion as the fortunes of the ruling Habsburg family rose and made it the seat of one of the most powerful dynasties on the European continent. Today the Hofburg reflects almost a thousand years of European and Austrian history: cultural and art history as well as political history since most architectural styles dating from the 13th to the 20th century are represented here. The whole complex is almost a city within the city: the Hofburg comprises 18 wings enclosing 19 courtyards built during the Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Biedermeier, and Historicism periods.

Only the gothic apses of the Burgkapelle (Burg = castle + Kapelle = chapel) remains of the medieval castle built by the Bohemian King Ottokar II. The Stallburg (Stall = stable + Burg = castle) has been constructed in the 16th century and houses today the stables of the Spanish Riding School. The so-called Amalientrakt (Amalie = Amalia + Trakt = wing) dates from the same period.

In 1670, after a devastating fire, Emperor Leopold I (1640-1705), ordered the south-western part of the Hofburg to be rebuilt as his residence on the plans of the Imperial Engineer Filiberto Luchese. This part of the palace is now called Leopoldischinertrakt (Leopoldischiner = Leopold's style + Trakt = wing). The construction work was directed by the Italian architects Lodovico Burnacini and Martino and Domenico Carlone. Since 1947 the Austrian Federal President has his office here.

The renowned baroque architects Lukas von Hildebrandt and Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach planned the so-called Reichskanzleitrakt (Reich = empire + Kanzlei = chancellery + Trakt = wing) that is publicly accessible today. In this part of the Hofburg you can visit the Kaiserappartements (Kaiser = emperor + Appartements = apartments); the Austrian National Library; the Imperial Porcelain and Silver Collection; and the Winter Riding School, where the Spanish Riding School holds its famous performances.

The Neue Burg (neu = new + Burg = castle) was built between 1881 and 1913. It opens up to the huge Heldenplatz (Held = hero + Platz = square). It is the Hofburg's most pompous part. Originally, it was planned that this majestic structure would be faced by a second equal building, forming together with the two imperial museums (the Kunsthistorische Museum and the Naturhistorische Museum that are on the opposite side of the Ringstraße) a huge imperial forum: the Kaiserforum. The pretentious plans were, however, soon dropped for financial reasons. Today, the Neue Burg is the home of an interesting Ethnological Museum, the Ephesus Museum, and the collections of historical musical instruments and imperial armory.

Since 1918, the Hofburg has served various purposes under the Republic of Austria. It is not only the seat of the Austrian Federal President, but also a major center for international conferences. Only part of it is open to the public, in particular the places listed below -- all well worth a visit!

Schatzkammer (Treasury) - With its entrance in the Hofburg’s Schweizerhof (Schweizer = Swiss + Hof = courtyard), the Secular and Ecclesiastic Treasury houses some the most important symbols of over a thousand years of European history. The single most important historical object on display here is the imperial crown of the Holy Roman Empire. In addition, the insignia of the Austrian Empire (the crown of Emperor Rudolf II, the imperial orb and scepter of Emperor Matthias), vestments and other treasures of the Order of the Golden Fleece can all be admired here. There is also an ecclesiastical treasury with more shining gold, silver, and precious gems.
If you should visit only one museum in the Hofburg, the Treasury is the place to go!

Open: Wed-Mon 10 am to 6 pm; closed on Tuesdays.

Kaiserappartements (Imperial Apartments) - In the Imperial Apartments you can see the lodgings of the officers who were on duty with the imperial staff; the great audience hall; the conference room in which the Council of ministers and the Crown Council met; and the private rooms of Emperor Franz Joseph I (1848-1916).

You can also visit the so-called Amalientrakt, home to the private apartments of the beautiful wife of Franz Joseph I, Empress Elisabeth (1837-1898); the apartments of Tsar Alexander I (who lived here during the Congress of Vienna in 1815); and the dining room of the imperial family.

Open: daily 9 am to 4.30 pm with guided tours every hour from 10 am to 4 pm.

Burgkapelle (Court Chapel) - The Chapel was constructed between 1447 and 1449 under Emperor Friedrich III in Gothic style, but it has much changed over the centuries and nowadays it has mainly a Baroque appearance.
On Sundays from September to June and on some religious holidays, concerts are held by the Hofmusikkapelle (Hof = court + Musik = music + Kapelle = orchestra) and members of the world-famous Wiener Sängerknaben (Wiener = Vienna's + Sänger = singer + Knaben = boys) sing Mass, starting at 9.15 am.

Open: mid-September to end of June, Mon-Thu 11 am to 3 pm; Fri 11 am to 1 pm.

Silberkammer (Silver Chamber) - On display is a wide range of pompous table decorations, silverware, serving bowls, trays, and the like from all four corners of the world. Even a "simple" meal at the imperial court was a major affair!

Open: daily with guided tours at 11 am and 3 pm.

Nationalbibliothek (National Library) - Accessible via Josefplatz (Josef = Joseph + Platz = square), the former imperial library was planned by the baroque architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach and subsequently expanded by Nikolaus von Pacassi. Central to the huge collection is the library’s Prunksaal (Prunk = magnificence + Saal = hall) that is decorated with beautiful frescoes by Daniel Gran.

Open: May to October, Mon-Wed and Sat 10 am to 4 pm; Thu 10 am to 7 pm; Sun 10 am to 1 pm.
November to April, Mon-Sat 10.30 am to 12 am; closed on Sundays.