The Hofburg in Innsbruck was largely built under Empress Maria Theresa. Its magnificent rooms functioned as the Alpine residence of the Habsburgs until 1918.
Like every true Habsburg city, the Tyrolean capital Innsbruck also has a Hofburg, which served as the residence of the monarch family in imperial times. Today, its magnificent rooms can be visited on guided tours.
Origin of the Innsbruck Hofburg
Innsbruck's Hofburg dates back to a medieval castle built by Archduke and Count of Tyrol Sigmund der Münzreiche in the 15th century. Successive rulers, including the German king and later emperor Maximilian I, had the castle extended.
Its present appearance in the style of the Viennese court rococo goes back largely to Empress Maria Theresa, who wanted to reside appropriately in the Tyrolean Alps as she did in her court castle in Vienna.
Although the monarch only visited Innsbruck twice, once in transit and once for the wedding of her son Leopold. II. with the Spanish princess Ludovica, today not only the Hofburg but also the Triumphal Gate and the adjoining Maria Theresien Street commemorate the important regent.
The Hofburg was used as the imperial residence until the end of the Habsburg monarchy in 1918, when it became the property of the Republic of Austria.
Visit to the Innsbruck Hofburg
The Hofburg of Innsbruck can only be partially visited, as about 30 of the approximately 400 rooms house private flats. The magnificent state rooms, however, are open to the public.
Probably the most impressive room is the magnificent banqueting hall with portraits of Maria Theresa, Franz Stephan and their 16 children. The 30m long, 13m wide and 11m high hall is also called the "Giants' Hall" not because of its size but because of the depiction of giants in paintings.
The apartments of the imperial family, various salons and the Court Chapel, which was furnished by Empress Maria Theresa in her husband's death chamber, as well as the listed Court Garden around the Hofburg can also be visited.
The Andreas Hofer Hall reminds us that the Tyrolean freedom fighter and folk hero of the early 19th century lived in the Hofburg during the Tyrolean people's uprising against the Bavarian occupation. Andreas Hofer is buried in the neighbouring Hofkirche.
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Entrance fees and guided tours at the Imperial Palace of Innsbruck
