A Brief Overview of Hofburg Palace – History, Tours & Timing

Are you planning a tour to Vienna? Then don’t miss the magnificent Hofburg Palace which is situated in the heart of the city.

The palace was the residence and seat of Habsburg emperors and was given up in 1918 after the First World War. Today, it continues to be the seat of the Austrian Federal President and a popular tourist attraction.

The Hofburg Palace is known as the ‘City within the City and you will know its significance once you explore the entire complex. Let’s read on to find out what makes it so magnificent.

 

History of the Hofburg Palace 

The name of the palace translates as ‘Castle of the Court’. It was built in 1275 as a medieval castle by King Ottokar II of Bohemia, who was also Duke of Austria. 

For over 600 years, the castle expanded into a huge palace complex. The construction of the complex you admire today was started by Ferdinand I in 1533. He decided to move his main residence to Vienna, making this city the capital of the Roman Empire.

Empress Maria Theresa was a famous icon from history who called the palace her home. During her reign, a considerable amount of European history was written here. The other notable residents include Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth who used the Hofburg Palace as their winter residence, while Schonbrunn Palace was their summer palace.

 

The architecture of the Hofburg Palace 

This is one of the largest palace complexes in the world. The reason why it’s so interesting is that most of its buildings have more than 700 years of architectural history. And nearly every ruler since 1275 ordered additions or alterations to the palace complex.

As a result, today the Hofburg palace showcases many different architectural styles, from Gothic to Renaissance, Baroque to Rococo, along with a dash of Classicism. The oldest part of the complex, Burgkapelle (the Royal Chapel) dating back to the 13th century can still be visited.

All in all, with its many squares and gardens, the Hofburg complex occupies an area of 59 acres and comprises 18 groups of buildings, 19 courtyards, and 2600 rooms.

 

Things to see in Hofburg Palace

If you’re planning to visit Hofburg Palace, we at Rosotravel offer three choices for this spectacular site – the Imperial Apartments, the Sisi Museum, and Silver Collection. Each of these attractions can be explored individually or we can combine all three attractions into one extended visit. 

Further, the area surrounding Hofburg and its outlying buildings also house several attractions worth visiting, including the Imperial Chapel, the National Library, the Spanish Riding School, and many more.

The Sisi Museum

The Sisi Museum is dedicated to Empress Elisabeth who was also known as ‘Sisi’. This museum takes you back into the lives of the 19th-century aristocracy. 

The exhibition includes over 300 personal artifacts of the Empress like the dress she wore when moving to Austria from her native Munich as a 16-year-old in 1854, a copy of her coronation gown, and a replica of her imperial railway carriage. 

Other fascinating objects on display include her jewelry, gloves, parasols, beauty regime notes, childhood toys and musical instruments, and a death mask made after her assassination.

You can rent an audio guide to explore the museum’s six rooms dedicated to the Empress. Learn about her rebellion against the court ceremonies, her obsession with beauty, and the deep sadness that affected her life. To cope with tragedies in her life she travelled across the world until she was assassinated in Geneva in 1898.

 

Recommended:  Hofburg Palace and Sisi Museum Skip the Line Group Tour

 

The Silver Collection

The Silver Collection is home to more than 7000 spectacular treasures. Among its many treasures, some of the most spectacular is the 18th-century East Asian porcelain, the formal dinner services of Franz Joseph, a silver traveling service belonging to Empress Elisabeth Christine, and the 10-meter-long Milanese centerpiece made of gilded bronze.

The other notable highlights include the Meissen service from 1775, the 19th-century Viennese Empire service, and the most important Ruby service used during Imperial grand occasions with its settings for 140 guests. Further, take a tour into the Court Kitchen to witness the scenes behind the Imperial banquets. On display are original copper vessels, pans, and molds, along with warming dishes needed to feed 5000 members of the court.

 

The Imperial Apartments

Discover the different bedrooms, studies, and living rooms that were home to the Habsburgs for over 600 years, this includes the official and private chambers of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. The rooms are perfectly preserved with their original decor and furnishing and are a testament to the splendor of the Austrian royal family.

Of the rooms accessible to the public, the most interesting is the Dining Room, famous for its rich decor and Flemish artwork. Visit the Guard Room and view the fascinating model of the Hofburg palace and its many buildings. Explore the Large Audience Chamber – the waiting room for the Emperor’s weekly audiences and the Bohemian crystal candelabrum is worth seeing.  While in the Study Room, admire the bust of Field-Marshal Radetzky, one of the privileged persons who was permitted to appear unannounced before the Emperor, his sword is also on display here.

The highlight of the Imperial apartments is Empress Elisabeth’s apartments which include her lavish living Room; it’s regarded as the prettiest of Hofburg’s many rooms and served both as a living room and bedroom.  Another center of interest is the Large Salon that is home to a fine collection of Louis XIV furniture and a number of Sevres porcelain vases, a collection of romantic landscape paintings, and a marble statue of Napoleon’s sister.

Finally, also worth a visit is Alexander’s Apartments, named after Russia’s Tsar Alexander I, who stayed here during the Congress of Vienna. The center of attraction here includes the busts of Emperor Charles I and his consort, Empress Zita. Rent an audio guide that will keep you informed and entertained with interesting facts as you wander through the palace’s offices, lounges and bedrooms.

 

Besides these three main attractions mentioned above, the Hofburg complex is home to several other attractions, most of which are run independently and require a separate tour.

 

The Imperial Chapel (Burgkapelle)

The Royal Chapel is the oldest part of Hofburg Palace and dates back to the 13th century. 

The highlights of a visit include exploring the chapel’s rich interiors along with an opportunity to see the famous Vienna Boys Choir and the State Opera Choir singing at Sunday Mass and religious holidays.

You will have to book your tickets in advance, as this spectacular show combines two of the most iconic activities in Vienna and is something you’ll never forget in a long time.

 

The Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School is a renowned institution and tradition which has been a major part of Vienna’s rich culture since 1565. It’s the last and oldest riding school where the classical style of horsemanship is still practiced. The goal is to achieve complete harmony between the horse and rider. 

You can book different types of tours to visit the Spanish Riding School. You can attend a morning exercise to see the stallion’s training routine live or you can go behind the scenes of Piber Stud and watch young foals play around, or you can attend a riding performance and witness the most difficult Quadrille in the world.

Please note: This exhibit is very popular with tourists hence it’s recommended to book your tickets with Rosotravel in advance. In the summer months of July and August, the Spanish riding school remains closed.

 

The New Palace (Neue Burg)

The Neue Burg palace wing is home to several tourist attractions like: 

• The National Library is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. 

 

• The Ephesos Museum has a collection of ancient Greek and Roman artifacts.

 

• The Weltmuseum will take you on a journey through the history and art of numerous cultures from around the world.

 

• The House of Austrian History is a new addition to the museum landscape that covers the events which took place in the country post-WWI.

 

• The Arms and Armour collection is another must-see and includes medieval helmets, royal armor, and ceremonial swords, richly ornamented shields, and superb 16th-century Ottoman weapons.

 

• In the Historical Musical Instruments collection, here you will discover the very instruments used by the likes of Schubert, Liszt, Beethoven, Haydn, and other famous composers.

 

Burggarten

This was the former private garden of the imperial family. Nowadays, it’s a beautiful and pleasant park with a number of stand-alone statues including the famous monument of Mozart.

There is a beautiful and elegant Palm House designed by Friedrich Ohmann in the art nouveau style. It was built between 1901 and 1907 as a greenhouse and offers a little bit of green respite from the bustle of modern tourism. Currently, it houses a popular cafe. 

Towards the left of the Palm House is the Schmetterlinghaus, a butterfly garden where you can see tropical butterflies and even bats.

 

Volksgarten

Volksgarten is a counterpart to the Burggarten and is situated on the other side of the Hofburg. This park is home to a variety of roses and the best flowers in Vienna, there is a Greek-style temple that doubles as a contemporary art gallery, and a wonderful memorial to Empress Elisabeth.

 

Touring the Hofburg Palace

Rosotravel offers a number of guided tours of the Hofburg Palace in several languages. Private tours can also be booked for individuals and groups.

If you are looking for a truly unique experience you should consider one of our special evening or themed tours, which includes topics such as everyday imperial life, state banquets, and the life of Empress Sisi. Another popular option is enjoying a concert in the palace itself.

 

Hofburg Palace Timings

The opening hours of the Hofburg Palace is as follows: 

July – August: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

September – June: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm

The palace is open all days in the week except on National holidays in Austria. Admission into the palace closes 30 minutes prior to the closing hours.

Hofburg Palace Tickets 

At the time of writing this blog, basic admission cost €15 for an adult; your ticket includes an audio guide. 

• Adults: € 15 (US$ 18.30)
• Students (19-25): € 14 (US$ 17.10)
• Children (6 to 18 years old): € 9 (US$ 11)
• Vienna Pass holders: Free.

 

Finally, no trip to Vienna is complete without a tour of the Hofburg Palace. You’ll get a chance to experience how the Viennese royals once lived, at the same time be witness to the beauty of its architecture along with its royal history.

So, get ready to explore the Hofburg Palace with Rosotravel and make your vacation to Vienna more special. 

Start planning with us today and have a happy vacation!!

Trivia question

Which film sequence was shot in Hofburg Palace?

                                                                    

The Three Musketeers (1993)
Octopussy (1983)
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
Brokedown Palace (1999)

Interested in other Vienna Tours?