European Ribbon

Introduction

The Hofburg, has always been the seat of Austria’s rulers, which remains true both today and throughout history. Since 1946, it has officially served as the residence of the president of Austria. However, for centuries, it fulfilled the role of home and palace for the powerful Habsburg dynasty, a family that not only ruled the Austrian Empire but also held sway over much of Europe. The Hofburg is not merely a single building; rather, it constitutes an entire complex comprising museums, gardens, churches, libraries, stables, and even an opera house. Developed over seven centuries, it now spans an area of approximately 24 hectares (59.3 acres), making it the largest non-religious architectural ensemble in Europe. Moreover, when we consider the adjacent Museum District (Kaiserforum), the total area expands to nearly 50 hectares (123.55 acres). Lastly, it’s worth noting that the Hofburg served as the imperial winter residence, while the 🔗 Schönbrunn Palace functioned as the summer residence.

The Gothic Castle and the Origins of the Empire

Exploring the Hofburg’s history, we journey back to the 13th century. During this time, the first Gothic castle was erected. However, it didn’t serve as a residence; instead, it formed an integral part of the city’s fortifications, complete with defensive towers and moats. In the mid-16th century, the Hofburg underwent extensive Renaissance-style reconstruction and expansion. This transformation occurred when the Roman king and later Emperor Ferdinand I chose Vienna as his primary residence. Simultaneously, his brother, Emperor Charles V, ascended the Spanish throne—a significant event in European history. The 1521 Treaty of Wormatia possibly marked the separation of the Austrian and 🔗 Spanish Habsburgs. As a result, the Austrians later assumed the imperial title, which persisted intermittently until 1918.

Now, let’s revisit the Hofburg. Over subsequent centuries, it became a tradition to expand and add new wings to the palace. Consequently, today’s palace complex is a compilation of various epochs, spanning from medieval Gothic to Renaissance, Baroque, and contemporary styles.

The Swiss Wing

The Schweizerhof, also known as the Swiss Wing, represents the oldest Gothic section of the castle. Within its walls reside the clergy, the secular treasury with imperial jewels, and the court music band. Additionally, it houses the oldest central chapel, which served as the private place of worship for the Habsburgs. Its construction likely began under the commission of Albert I around 1287. Toward the late 15th century, Emperor Frederick III initiated its reconstruction and expansion in the Gothic style. Subsequently, Maria Theresa transformed it into a late Baroque masterpiece. Until the monarchy’s end in 1918, the chapel fulfilled the role of the parish church for the imperial and royal court, as well as the castle parish.

The Swiss Wing extends to the courtyard, which was known as Franzensplatz from 1846 to 1919 and has been called In der Burg since 1919. At its center stands a bronze statue, unveiled in 1846, depicting Emperor Francis II/I. This statue was erected at the initiative of Emperor Ferdinand I. Created by Italian sculptor Pompeo Marchesi, it portrays the emperor in the likeness of ancient Roman Caesars. The lateral facades of the pillar feature bronze bas-reliefs depicting various aspects of people’s lives. Flanking the pillar are four colossal statues symbolizing faith, strength, peace, and justice.

The Amalienburg

Opposite the Swiss Gate, you’ll find the Amalienburg. This wing, adorned with a small tower and an astronomical clock on its facade, was named in honor of Empress Wilhelmina Amalie of Brunswick-Lüneburg, the widow of Emperor Joseph I. In the center of the Vienna Hofburg courtyard, between the Amalienburg and the Swiss Gate, stands a monument to Emperor Francis I Habsburg, created by Pompeo Marchesi between 1842 and 1846. Over time, various archdukes and princes resided here, including Leopold II in the late 18th century, Tsar Alexander I during the Congress of Vienna, and Empress Elisabeth Sisi from 1854 to 1898. Currently, the Amalien Wing serves as the residence for ministers, including Secretaries of State, in the Chancellery.

The Leopoldine Wing

In 1660, during Emperor Leopold I’s reign, the Amalienburg was connected to the Swiss Wing by the Leopoldine Wing. At its western end stands an intimate chapel, entirely renovated by Maria Theresa in 1772. The wing itself underwent reconstruction. In 1683, architect Giovanni Pietro Tencalla extended it by one floor, and in 1752, court stonemasons added a balcony. Beneath the Leopoldine Wing, an enormous wine cellar belonging to the Hofburg laied. On June 28, 1900, the heir to the throne and Franz Joseph’s nephew, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, made his “renunciation oath” here. He renounced his claim to the succession on behalf of his future wife, Countess Sophie Chotek, who came from a lower social status, and their descendants. Interestingly, the subsequent deaths of Franz Ferdinand and his wife in 1914 in Sarajevo, Bosnia, are considered a direct cause of the outbreak of World War I.

The Court Library

Across from the castle, you’ll find the initially freestanding Court Library. Emperor Charles VI provided the funding, and his son, Joseph Emanuel, completed its construction in 1735. This section of the Hofburg holds immense artistic significance. Nestled within it is the baroque Representation Hall of the Austrian National Library, renowned as the most exquisite historic library hall globally. Adjacent to the Court Library stands the Augustinian Wing, named in tribute to the nearby Augustinian church and monastery. Although constructed before the Court Library, they seamlessly integrated into it during the expansion of the Hofburg .

The Redoutensaaltrakt

North of the Court Library, adjacent to it, stands the Redoutensaal Wing, named in honor of the Redoutensäle housed within. These two banquet halls were constructed between 1629 and 1631 by the court architect Giovanni Battista Carlone, on the marriage of Ferdinand III to Infanta Maria Anna of Spain. Later, Maria Theresa renovated the spaces to host masked balls and concerts. In 1748, the Grand Hall was transformed into the public Redouten Hall. After 1930, this venue hosted opera performances and exhibitions for the Austrian National Library. Subsequently, in 1973, it was repurposed as a congress center. Finally, in 1993, the federal government decided that the Redoutensäle would serve as the government press center while remaining accessible for theatrical performances, operas, and balls.

The Stallburg

Adjacent to the Redoutensaal Wing, you’ll discover the Stallburg. Although it stands as a separate building, it is seamlessly connected to the rest of the Hofburg complex via a passage. Constructed in the 16th century as the residence for Maximilian II, the heir to the throne. It was due to the fact that Emperor Ferdinand I chose not to share a roof with his son, who leaned toward Protestantism. During the 17th century, the Stallburg housed the art collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm, brother of Emperor Ferdinand III—a collection that now constitutes a significant portion of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Later, in the 18th century, the building underwent a transformation, becoming one of the imperial stables, thus earning its name, Stallburg. Today, it serves as a prominent venue for the Spanish Riding School.

The New Castle and the Ballroom

During the city’s expansion after demolishing its walls in the 1860s, the castle underwent its final significant enlargement. The plan included an imperial forum—a two-winged complex across the Ringstrasse—with twin museums for 🔗 Art and 🔗 Natural History. The old court stables by Fischer von Erlach were part of the design. However, only the museums were completed by 1891, while the rest faced delays.

Amid the construction of the New Castle at Heldenplatz, monumental equestrian statues of two Austrian generals—Prince Eugene of Savoy and Archduke Charles—were erected. On March 15, 1938, dictator Adolf Hitler proclaimed his homeland’s annexation to the German Reich from the balcony of the Neue Burg overlooking Heldenplatz.

The Ballroom Wing, constructed between 1910 and 1923, connects the New Castle with the Ceremonial Hall Wing. The Grand Ballroom, spanning approximately 1,000 m² (10,764.73 square feet), is the largest hall in the entire Hofburg. Originally intended as a throne room, it never fulfilled that purpose. Interior work concluded in 1923, but the artistic vision remained incomplete.

Since 1958, the ballroom wing has functioned as a congress center, managed by Hofburg Kongresszentrum & Redoutensäle Wien GmbH. In 2005, the so-called “Kesselhaushof” was covered and transformed into a conference hall.

The Garden

Adjacent to the southeast facade of the New Castle (Neue Burg) lies the Burggarten, accessible via a spacious terrace. Unlike the Volksgarten, this garden was exclusively reserved for imperial family members. The Palm House, also known as the Butterfly House, was the final Secession-style building added to the Hofburg by Friedrich Ohmann, replacing a greenhouse constructed a century earlier.

Between the Palm House and the New Castle, there once stood a connecting building that enclosed the rear of the Court Library, leading to a new courtyard. This section was dismantled on the orders of the heir to the throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, who desired an unobstructed view of the castle garden from the library. The Burggarten was opened to the public only in 1920. After World War II, the Mozart monument was relocated here, alongside statues of Emperors Francis I and Francis Joseph.