Hofburg, Vienna

 
by croisbeauty
 
  •   Hofburg
    by croisbeauty
  •   Hofburg
    by croisbeauty
  •   Hofburg
    by croisbeauty
  •   Hofburg
    by croisbeauty
  •   Hofburg
    by croisbeauty
 

286 Reviews of Hofburg

Sort by: Most recent | Most helpful

Write a Review
Hofburg
croisbeauty profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

croisbeauty 6485 reviews
Hofburg gate
4 more images

Hofburg was designed by Fisher von Erlach in the 1720 and finished towards the end of the 19th century, with new and more alterations in the spirit of the crumbling Empire. The pompous gates are decorated with two big fountains, alegorically illustrating Austria's "Macht zur See" (Power at Sea) and "Macht zu Lande" (Power at Land)......

Updated Dec 16, 2011

Address: The winter palace of the emperor

Was this review helpful?

Hofburg - Imperial Palace
MichaelFalk1969 profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

MichaelFalk1969 1777 reviews
Hofburg

Conveniently located on the "Ringstrasse" within the Inner City, this former palace of the Habsburg emperors contains the imperial apartments of Empress Sissi (Elizabeth) and Franz I., the imperial treasury with the "Reichskleinodien" (the imperial insignia: crown, holy lance, sword, golden apple) as well as a number of interesting museums (weapons & armory museum, silver collection, national library, ethnological collection, musical instruments).

Updated Jun 30, 2011

Address: The winter palace of the emperor

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Castles and Palaces
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

Kaiserappartements
Maria81 profile photo
Maria81 373 reviews
Exterior of the Hofburg Palace

The living quarters of Hofburg, these were once occupied by Franz Josef and Empress Sissi as their winter residence (the summer one being in Schoenbrunn). Although not all of these are open - the museum continues to also function as the seat of government, being home to a number of government ministries and the presidential chancellery. Those that are showcase an impressive collection of furniture, crystal chandeliers, tapestries, and other fittings dating to the 19th century.

A number of rooms are devoted to the numerous sets of tableware dating to the same period - the Hoftafel und Silberkammer (Court Tableware and Silver Depot).

Written Jun 7, 2011

Address: The winter palace of the emperor

Related to:
 Castles and Palaces
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

Hofburg - Hofjagd-und Rüstkammer - Armour
breughel profile photo

5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

breughel 1230 reviews
Jousting knights
2 more images

The "Hofjagd-und Rüstkammer" - Armour and Arms collection is located in the Neue Burg at the Heldenplatz which is a monumental wing of the Hofburg planned to house the new living quarters of the emperor as evidenced by the stairway and marble hall.
Actually this museum belongs to the KHM.

This is the most beautiful collection of suits of armour in Europe.

The collection of weapons ( Hofjagd-und Rüstkammer) of the Kunsthistorisches Museum is centred on ceremonial or parade weapons and offers a very wide panorama of the evolution of what was a real art for the 15th century in Europe and in the Middle East.
The emperor Maximilien I devoted gladly to the tournaments and incited the young noble persons to devote to the joust and especially the running which was practised with sharp lances, more dangerous than the joust, but much less expensive because she could be practised in the battle armour.
Things did not stay in the field of ordinary armour because the Habsburg (notably both brothers Maximilien II and Ferdinand II) by taste for art and splendour led the technique of armours to a real art close to the goldsmith's art. The connoisseur will find in this museum numerous chiselled armours, inlaid armours, the fluted armours, the costume armours, greek-roman style armours, and darkened armours from the Baroque period.

Considerable financial means were needed to pay such works of art. Ferdinand II of Tyrol excelled at this passion of the beautiful suits of armour. Not satisfied with his own armours he collected armours and weapons of 125 famous persons of his time. We can see the suit of armour of Philippe II of Spain.
These collections are well presented in a number of rooms where the visitor is often alone! This museum still has not the chance (or misfortune for the connoisseurs) to be on the visit program of the groups.
There is also on show a collection of hunting weapons.

Open: Tuesday - Sunday 10 - 18 h (Thursday 10 - 21 h).
Closed: Monday.
Price (2011): 12 €, Vienna card 11 €, <27 yr & > 65 yr 9 €.
Free < 19 yr.
The ticket is valid for the Neue Burg & KHM main building.

Updated Apr 12, 2011

Address: Hofjagd-und Rüstkammer, Neue Burg, Heldenplatz

Website: www.khm.at

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Arts and Culture
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

The Natural History Museum
dustmon profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

dustmon 958 reviews
waiting until 9am opening
3 more images

I had some odd feelings before going to this museum with my son and daughter-in-law, mainly due to my love of animals, especially live ones, but this was a one-of-a-kind experience walking through the rooms full of every kind of animal known to the world. Rooms of Elk, wolves, tigers, elephants, birds, insects, fish, minerals and gems, even a room near the end set up with microscopes to see microorganisms! A truly wonderful setup, we took around an hour and a half walking through this great museum, while it was raining buckets outside in Vienna. My favorite room was the birds with all colors and sizes represented. Also the original 25,000 year old Venus Von Willendorf statue is here on display---I am glad to have seen the original displayed to perfection here in Vienna. 10 euros.

Updated Apr 4, 2011

Address: The winter palace of the emperor

Related to:
 Family Travel
 Cruise
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

neue burg
doug48 profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

doug48 5043 reviews
neue burg

the neue burg is located on the heldenplatz in the hofburg complex. this massive building was built between 1881 and 1913 at the end of the habsburg dynasty. today the neue burg houses the reading room of the national library and several small museums.

Updated Apr 4, 2011

Address: The winter palace of the emperor

Phone: 52524484

Related to:
 Architecture
 Museum Visits
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

Imperial Vienna
TheWanderingCamel profile photo

4.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

TheWanderingCamel 2538 reviews
Michaelertor
4 more images

Avoiding the erzatz-Mozarts that lay in wait for unwary tourists, as you cross the Michaelerplatz, you cannot help but be impressed by the great sweeping curve of the Michaeletrakt, the facade of the Hofburg, and the Michaelertor, with its massive copper dome and classical sculptures flanking either side of the entrance. Behind this facade (built in the late 1800s in the dying days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire) lies the vast complex of palaces and chapels, gardens and royal apartments and offices that was the seat of Hapsburg power more than 500 years. Add in the surrounding streets, once home to the aristocracy and clergy that revolved around the court, and you could spend days in this quarter of Vienna and still not see the half of it.

Passing under the gate, the Spanish Riding School is on your left, the ticket office and entrance to the State Apartments of Franz Joseph, last Emperor of Austria, and his beautiful Empress Elizabeth, and the Silberkammer - a treasure house of the plate and porcelain - is on your right. They're housed in the Amalienburg, a palace built in 1575.

This time I'm heading for the Schweizertor though, the entrance to the oldest part of the complex, the Schweitzer Hof (Swiss House), the mediaeval core of the Hofurg. Here, in the Burgkapelle (Royal Chapel), the angel voices of the Wiener Sangerknaben (Vienna Boys Choir) have been heard on high days and holy days for 500 years. Plan ahead and you too may be lucky enough to get a ticket for an exquisite Mozart or Haydn mass. After that, it's the Schatzkammer (Treasury) when 21 rooms contain the fabulous treasures of 1000 years of church and state, including the 1100 year-old crown of the Holy Roman Empire - to my mind the most amazing object in the whole museum, with its barbaric chunks of precious gems, huge pearls and Byzantine enamels set in an extraordinary crown of gold.

State Apartments, Silberkammer and Burgkapelle are open daily
Schatzkammer is closed on Tuesdays.

Updated Apr 4, 2011

Address: Michaelerplatz

Related to:
 Historical Travel
 Museum Visits

Was this review helpful?

Hofburg Park: romantic gardens with some surprises
Pavlik_NL profile photo

2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Pavlik_NL 3265 reviews
2 more images

In between and around the Hofburg complex, beautiful gardens are inviting the visitors for pleasant walks. Especially when the weather is good, lots of Austrians - above all students - gather aruond in the park to read their study books, chat, discuss or just lay in the sun. In the park the small squares are decorated with large statues and small pavillions that house café's or restaurants make an afternoon in the Hofburg park a very pleasant time.

Updated Apr 4, 2011

Address: Hofbrug, Heldenplatz and surroundings

Was this review helpful?

Gate to Hofburg palace
Raimix profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Raimix 1336 reviews

Hofburgs is a big structure of palaces and it has gates for the entrance to the area of palace. These gates can be seen from the side there museum of history is.

I could imagine Emperors carriage going through these gates to his winter residence.

Updated Feb 25, 2011

Address: The winter palace of the emperor

Was this review helpful?

White palace of Hofburg
Raimix profile photo

3.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Raimix 1336 reviews
Me and part of Hofburg palace

It was a castle in medieval times, but now it is only palace. This building is very big and has lot of interesting sights around. It is divided to National Library, chapel, lot of yards with sculptures. Hofburg family tended to be at this palace at cold time of year (winter, autumn, early spring). For summer they used summer palace in Schonbrunn.

White palace and horses with carriages looks interesting and adds special charm for this city.

Updated Feb 25, 2011

Address: Hofburg Innerer Burghof/Kaisertor

Website: http://www.aboutvienna.org/sights/hofburg.htm

Related to:
 Architecture
 Castles and Palaces
 Historical Travel

Was this review helpful?

Top 3 Hotels in Vienna

Hotel Imperial  Vienna

 6 Reviews and 238 Opinions  the hotel imperial is located downtown within walking distance of many of the sights of vienna. this... 

 Hotels in Vienna

Best Western Premier Kaiserhof Wien  Vienna

 4 Reviews and 287 Opinions  We have spent there few days just before Christmas in 2008. Not the best location but good anyway. ... 

 Hotels in Vienna

Hotel Konig Von Ungarn  Vienna

 6 Reviews and 172 Opinions  As I have my own place in Vienna, I haven't spent a night here. My friends and I go for a quiet... 

 Hotels in Vienna

The Place

Hofburg

The winter palace of the emperor

Hofburg tips and photos posted by real travelers and Vienna locals.

  Write a Review  
Experience Vienna
 

The People

968 Members Live Here
 
Our Members Say
 profile photo

 It was a castle in medieval times, but now it is only palace. This building is very big and has lot of interesting sights around. It is divided to National... 

968 members live in Vienna

 

Questions and Answers

Olihampere profile photo

Q:  Hello everybody! Can you help me with information on how to get from Vienna airport to Hilton Plaza? I see that there is CAT but... 

Redang profile photo

A: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/VIEPWTW-Hilton-Vienna-Plaza/directions.do 

Read 8 Replies

postQuestion_button

Top Vienna Writers

1

My birthplace & the place where I feel at home !

globetrott profile photo

 Vienna is my birthplace and I spent 14 years here attending a boarding school, later the hotel managment school ... Vienna is a MUST - so many things to see - and so I made this page with a big... 

2

VIENNA, AUSTRIA ~ MUSIC IS IN THE AIR !

longsanborn profile photo

  I came to Vienna, Austria, in July 1999 for work reasons and I've been here ever since. Initially, I dislike living in Vienna but as years went by, I've grown to love this lovely quiet city. But... 

3

Vienna and its never-ending history

Fam.Rauca profile photo

 Vienna is, for many visitors and tourists, a very important city. Visiting Vienna is a pleasure, but living here is a real privilege. The city has 1,600,000 inhabitants, on a surface of 415 sq km. The... 

4

Just More then Mozart, Strauss und Sacher torte

filipdebont profile photo

 In September 2205, I made a combined City Trip: a Vienna - Prague trip. It was a typical FDB organisation (which means I organised it all by myself), full of architecture, culture and local... 

5

Still a city of dreams

morgenhund profile photo

 Vienna is a city that never ceases to astound me - I still have to explore a lot of its nooks and crannies - that's one reason why I love the city as it seems to be made up of lots of smaller towns...... 

View all rated pages

View newest pages

Build your own Vienna page

Travel Editors for Vienna

globetrott profile photo
 profile photo