The Imperial Palace in Innsbruck

The Imperial Palace in Innsbruck has the same name as the Hofburg Palace in Austria. It is the third most important architectural monument of cultural heritage in Austria.

The construction of the palace began in the XV century by order of Archduke Sigmund of the Habsburg family. The built defensive fortress with a tower, part of which has survived to this day, became the basis of the future royal residence. Sigmund began buying up the surrounding land and began building the palace. His descendants rebuilt and changed the layout of the castle, added new buildings and changed the style of the palace. In the second half of the XVI century, after a strong fire, the Gothic roofs were replaced by sloping roofs with pediments in the Renaissance style. Italian architects who served at the court changed the appearance of the palace, making it more like a work of Italian architecture. Archduke Leopold V wanted to stop the innumerable expenses on the palace in Innsbruck and ordered it to be demolished, but his plans were not destined to come true: the Thirty Years' War began.

Hofburg acquired special importance under Empress Maria Theresa in the middle of the XVII century. Thanks to her efforts, Hofburg became a royal residence.

Today there is a museum in the palace building. It's open from 9:00 to 17:00. In the period from March to August every Wednesday hours are extended to 19.00. The ticket office closes half an hour before the end of the museum.