Hofburg Palace

The modern Hofburg Palace is the official residence of the President of Austria. During the Empire, the palace was the winter residence of the ruling Habsburg dynasty. Since 1279, the Habsburg possessions in Vienna have expanded. Various buildings are attached to the Hofburg: Amalienburg Palace, the chapel (Hofkapelle or Burgkapelle), the Natural History Museum, the Museum of Art History, the Library of the Imperial Court (Hofbibliothek, now Prunksaal), the Treasury (Schatzkammer), the National Theater (Burgtheater), the riding school (Hofreitschule), the stable (Stallburg and Hofstallungen) and the Hofburg Congress Center. Among the architects who worked on the Hofburg are such famous names as Filiberto Lucese, Lucas von Hildebrandt, Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach and his son Johann Fischer von Erlach.

It is known that the rebuilding of the Hofburg began even the Babenbergs, the dynasty of rulers of Austria before the Habsburgs. The buildings of this period were on the site of a Scottish courtyard. The earliest buildings that have come down to us belong to the XV century: a Gothic chapel and treasury. Almost every representative of the Habsburgs, having ascended to the throne, began to rebuild and expand his residence. Under Maximilian II imperial stables were built, under Charles VII - Amalienburg, under Leopold I - Leopold wing and so on.

Today you can visit the Imperial Apartments in Hofburg, which include the residential and office premises of the palace, which have come down to us in almost exact form. On the exposition you can learn how the monarchs of Austria lived, how they spent their day and how they had fun. In the palace there is a museum of Sissi, the Bavarian princess Elizabeth, the first beauty of Europe. The Silver Chamber is open, where you can get acquainted with family relics and dining items of the imperial family.