The Hofburg Palace is one of the most important buildings in Vienna. It is a cultural and historical asset that provides a glimpse into the lives of the emperors of the Empire in the centuries preceding its fall. In this article, we will focus on the history of the magnificent structure and its various wings. If you wish to read comprehensive information for visiting the palace, you can find all the details in the expanded article we prepared about visiting the Hofburg Palace complex.
You can navigate between the parts of the article by clicking on the table of contents:
- The Story of the Palace
- The 11 Main Palace Sections
- Heldenplatz (Heroes’ Square) outside the Palace – Who are the Heroes in the Square?
- The Fortification Wall Gate – Äußeres Burgtor
- The Royal Gardens of the Palace – Volksgarten and Burggarten
The Story of the Hofburg Palace
The Hofburg Palace currently serves as the residence and workplace of the President of the Republic of Austria, but for about 600 years it served as the residence of the rulers of the Empire – the Habsburg family. This is an ancient and large palace with a long history located right in the heart of the city of Vienna. Construction of the palace began as early as the mid-13th century AD, and from the outset it served the regional administration of the Dukes of Austria and primarily the Habsburg family.
During the Habsburg rule, it served as the winter home of the imperial family, while Schönbrunn Palace was their summer home. In the Middle Ages, the palace began as a fortified castle, but as the Empire grew stronger over the years, it expanded the structure and added many wings. Today, the total area of the palace spans no less than 240,000 square meters and it has 18 wings, 19 courtyards, and 2,600 rooms where 5,000 people work and reside!
One of the entrances to the Hofburg Palace – View from St. Michael’s Square
The 11 Main Wings of the Hofburg Palace
The Hofburg Palace is divided into many wings built in different periods and styles. The wings worth knowing about are:
1. The Swiss Wing (Schweizertrakt)
The Old Castle (Alte Burg), now known as the Swiss Wing and named after the Swiss guards who served in the palace guard, forms the oldest part of the Hofburg Palace. Only parts of this wing have survived. In the past, this wing had watchtowers on all sides, as befits a fortified castle. With the changes and expansions made to the palace, the ancient towers, security moat, and bridge were destroyed. Additionally, in the 16th century, the exterior of the Swiss Wing was renovated in the Renaissance style. In 1552, the Swiss Gate (Schweizertor) was built, designed by Pietro Ferabosco. In this wing are the Imperial Treasures, including the royal garments of the nobles and rulers of the Empire.
Tip for singing performance fans: In this section is the Palace Chapel (Hofmusikkapelle), built in 1449, where the Vienna Boys’ Choir performs on Sundays and various classical concerts, such as the Mozart concert, are held. Visitors must pay for the concerts, and they can buy tickets in advance on the chapel’s website.
2. Stallburg Wing
Construction of this wing began in the 16th century AD with the aim of being the residence of the heir to the throne, Prince Maximilian. This wing does not physically connect to the rest of the complex because Ferdinand I, the ruler at the time, refused to let his son live in his residence after discovering that he had turned toward Protestant Christianity. Later, this wing served as the display area for the art collections of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm, brother of Ferdinand III.
At the end of the 18th century, when the art collections were moved to another building that currently serves as the Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum), the wing was converted into stables for the Empire’s horses. Today, it is used by the Spanish Riding School (Spanische Hofreitschule), and you can visit any day (except Mondays) to watch the morning training of the noble horses. The performances themselves take place in the riding school’s winter building.
3. Amalienburg Wing
Across from the Swiss Gate is the Amalie Wing (Amalienburg), named after Empress Amalia Wilhelmine, the widow of Emperor Joseph I, who lived there after her husband’s death. This wing was built in the 16th century. The last resident to live in this wing was Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), and today her living quarters are open to visitors. On the exterior of this wing is an ancient astronomical clock.
4. Leopold Wing
In the 17th century, ruler Leopold I decided to connect the Swiss Wing and the Amalie Wing. He built a new wing in the Baroque style, so people named it after him – the Leopold Wing (Leopoldinischer Trakt). Maria Theresa lived in this wing in the 18th century, and after her death, the state used its rooms as state rooms. Since ’46 of the last century, this wing has served as the office of the President of the Austrian Republic.
5. Imperial Chancellery Wing (Reichskanzleitrakt)
This wing, as its name suggests, served as the seat of the Supreme Council of the Holy Roman Empire. Construction of the wing finished at the beginning of the 18th century, and after the Empire’s dissolution, authorities converted it into residential units for the Emperor’s family. From the mid-19th century, the wing was for the personal use of the famous ruler Franz Joseph.
6. Library Wing (Hofbibliothek)
Between the years 1723 and 1735, a wing was built whose purpose was to house the valuable book collection of the Habsburg family. This is an impressively beautiful wing with a vast hall in the Baroque style. There is no doubt that this is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Today, this wing serves as the National Library of Austria.
7. Augustine Wing
This wing stands right next to the library building, on the southeast side of Joseph Square, where a bronze statue of the ruler Joseph II is located. In this wing are a church and a monastery. Initially, the church and monastery were separate buildings from the rest of the palace, but with its expansion, they became part of the palace structure. The church served the Habsburg family as a place of prayer and also as a venue for weddings. Emperor Joseph II and Empress Elisabeth, known as Sisi, married in this church.
8. Ballroom Wing (Redoutensäle)
In the 18th century, Empress Maria Theresa ordered the conversion of an opera house into a hall for balls and performances. This structure includes two event halls and serves as the palace’s ballroom wing. In 1922, fire severely damaged this wing, and renovation work lasted five years.
9. St. Michael’s Wing (Michaelertrakt)
This wing connects the winter building of the riding school and the Imperial Chancellery Wing. Adjacent to it is St. Michael’s Square, featuring two impressive fountains. One depicts “Power at Sea” and the second “Power on Land.” The name of the wing was given because of St. Michael’s Church located nearby.
10. Montoyer Wing
At the beginning of the 19th century, the Belgian architect Ludwig Montoyer built a breathtakingly beautiful event hall that served for important events of the Imperial House. Emperor Franz II ordered the construction of the hall. The ballroom floor is 1,000 square meters in size, making it the largest in the entire palace complex. Over the years, authorities annexed this wing to the area called the ‘New Castle’ (Neue Burg), and today the hall hosts prestigious and famous Viennese balls.
11. The New Castle (Neue Burg)
The construction of this part of the palace began at the end of the 19th century and ended at the beginning of the 20th century. This ambitious, large-scale project never reached completion. The project began following the demolition of Vienna’s old city walls and the rapid growth of the city. It is a curved and impressively beautiful structure located near Heroes’ Square.
Today, this building houses several museums – the Ephesus Museum, the Imperial Armoury, the collection of ancient musical instruments, and the World Museum. Additionally, it contains several reading rooms belonging to the National Library.
Worth knowing: From the balcony of the new wing, the one overlooking Heroes’ Square, Hitler announced the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany in 1938. The balcony is still referred to today as “Hitler’s Balcony” and is closed to visitors.
Heroes’ Square (Heldenplatz)
In 1809, battles with Napoleon’s army destroyed part of the old castle fortifications, and no one restored them. Instead, new defensive walls rose, but most of these did not remain standing (except for the impressive gate at the entrance to the Hofburg complex). In the inner area between the palace and the new walls, planners created three gardens and squares: the Castle Garden (Burggarten), the People’s Garden (Volksgarten), and Heroes’ Square. The square stands at the front of the New Castle wing, and visitors cannot miss it when they arrive from the Ring Road and pass through the ancient gate. During his reign, Emperor Franz Joseph commissioned its construction as part of his ambitious projects across Vienna.
Who are the Heroes in the Square?
Two impressive equestrian statues designed by Anton Dominik Fernkorn stand in the square. The first statue placed in the square in 1860 presents Archduke Charles as he appeared in a famous painting by Johann Peter Krafft. This statue served to glorify the House of Habsburg as successful warriors and military men. About five years later, the city placed a second statue in the square depicting Prince Eugene of Savoy. Both statues aimed to glorify the Empire’s military power, but ironically, soon after their installation, the Empire suffered heavy defeats that gradually led to its decline and eventual dissolution at the beginning of the 20th century.
The Fortification Wall Gate – Ausseres Burgtor
The ancient gate at the entrance to the palace’s Heroes’ Square dates back to 1660 and formed part of the massive fortification walls that protected the palace. The gate withstood the Ottoman siege in 1683, but it failed to stop Napoleon’s warriors in 1809. Napoleon’s warriors completely blew up the original gate, and between 1821 and 1824, a new symbolic gate rose on its ruins. On the gate are large inscriptions. From the Ring Road side it says: Franz I, Emperor of Austria 1824. From the Heroes’ Square side it says: Justice is the basis of power. This was the motto of Emperor Franz I.
The Royal Gardens of the Palace – Volksgarten and Burggarten
Around the palace are two vast and wonderfully maintained gardens. On warm summer days, this is a wonderful place to sit and relax in the heart of nature and enjoy the wonderful atmosphere.
The People’s Garden (Volksgarten)
Located north of the palace structure, right across from the Austrian Parliament on the Ring Road. This is Vienna’s first public garden, built in 1821 on the site where the ancient fortification walls, destroyed by Napoleon’s army in 1809, once stood. Visitors love the garden mainly for its rose garden, which contains about 3,000 roses of different types. In the center of the garden is an impressive neoclassical building built by Pietro di Nobile. It is a scaled-down replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens. At the northern end of the garden stands a monument to Empress Elisabeth, and in its center is a statue of her from 1907. At the southern end of the garden is another monument from 1875, atop which stands a statue of the Austrian writer Franz Grillparzer holding a book.
Throughout the garden are two beautiful fountains, also established in the mid-19th century. The Cortisches café, also located within the garden, was built between the years 1820 to 1823. Famous composers such as Johann Strauss and Josef Lanner performed here. Another café was built in the garden in 1890. This is the Meirei café.
The Castle Garden (Burggarten)
Another public garden in the Hofburg Palace complex is located in its southern part, right next to the Albertina Gallery. Emperor Franz I established the garden between 1818 and 1819. In 1848, the garden underwent an expansion under the order of Emperor Franz Joseph. Until the fall of the Empire, palace residents used the garden exclusively, but afterward, the city opened it to the public and residents embraced it as a beloved place. The garden has retained its original form from that time, and several statues and greenhouses dot its grounds, including one that houses the Butterfly House.
