- TURY.CLUB
- Tourist Objects
- Austria
- Vienna
- Hofburg
Hofburg is a whole complex of structures of various architectural styles, created in the XIII-XIX centuries. It housed the Vienna residence and court of the Habsburg dynasty, the Kaisers of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, and later the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This grandiose architectural conglomerate, where lush palaces and ceremonial halls alternate in succession, is often compared with the Habsburg empire itself, uniting many European nations into a fragile alliance, more and more inclined to decay. The walls of the Habsburg residence contain many masterpieces and priceless treasures, ranging from Beethoven's hammer pianos to the feather ornaments of the Aztec ruler Montezuma, brought in the 15th century from distant Mexico. Government buildings are now housed in some Hofburg buildings, while museums are located in others where the richest collections from the Habsburg dynasty are represented. The oldest part of the residence is the Swiss Courtyard, named after the Swiss Guard guarding the Kaiser. However, Hofburg became a permanent residence only in 1533 under Ferdinand I, first the viceroy of Charles V, and since 1556, the Kaiser of the Holy Roman Empire. In his chambers, to this day, you can see the giant furnaces with which the palace was heated at that time. The Imperial Reception Hall and the bedroom of the Kaiser Franz Joseph, who ruled the empire for almost seven decades and died in 1916, are also available for inspection. The Habsburg Treasury Museum holds many priceless exhibits, some dating back thousands of years. Here, for example, you can see the Kaiser crown of the Holy Roman Empire of the German nation, made, according to historians, in the X century BC. e. A separate room is allocated under the "Burgundy Treasury", where the regalia of the Golden Fleece Order founded by the Burgundians are shown, as well as ceremonial robes, jewelry and relics of the Dukes of Burgundy. It also houses one of the most revered Christian shrines - the Holy Lance, which pierced the body of the crucified Jesus Christ. body of the crucified Jesus Christ. Century after century, the Habsburgs expanded their residence. Ferdinand I began the construction of the Stahlburg Palace, which only his son Maximilian II managed to complete. The construction of Amalienburg, where Empress Elizabeth lived during her reign, was begun in 1575. The part of the Hofburg, where the official residence of the head of state is now located, was built in the 17th century. The building of the Austrian National Library, which was called the most beautiful library in the world, was built in the twenties of the 18th century. It has collected more than two million books, and in addition, music, manuscripts, papyrus and much, much more are stored. The architectural pearl of the library is its amazing Parade Hall, decorated with columns and frescoes and crowned with a dome. It is called the Cathedral of the book. Albertina adjoins the library - a building not directly related to Hofburg. Its walls contain the largest collection of graphics on the planet, numbering more than 1.5 million copies, among which are such masterpieces as, for example, “Praying Hands” by Albrecht Durer. Nearby is the Church of the Augustinians. This is a former court church, originally owned by a man’s monastery. There was a correspondence betrothal of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, and then Napoleon with the Austrian Princess Maria Louise.
