Hofburg, Innsbruck

Hofburg, Innsbruck, residential palace composed of several elements (including the "stainen Haus" of the monastery of Stams, the later "Mitterhof") united under Duke Sigmund der Münzreiche ("rich in coins") around 1460, located along the eastern city wall and incorporating the "Saggentor" gate. The latter was converted into the famous "Wappenturm" tower in 1499 by Jörg Kölderer under Maximilian (later Emperor Maximilian I), and the Hofburg palace was extended to the northeast tower of the city wall; other alterations followed. The Hofburg palace received its current form in 2 stages of structural alterations under Maria Theresia, with the construction of the south tract (1754-56) on the Hofgasse lane according to plans by J. M. Gumpp the Younger and the new main façade (1766-73) on the Rennweg according to plans by C. J. Walter. This wing contains the famous "giants´ hall" with representations of all the members of the imperial family and ceiling frescoes by F. A. Maulbertsch. In the south wing the room where Maria Theresia´s husband Emperor Franz I had died in 1765 was changed into a memorial chapel in connection with the foundation of a religious institution for ladies of rank. In the southeast the Hofburg is adjacent to the Franciscan (Court) church, in the north to the oldest court theatre of Innsbruck (built 1629/30 by C. Gumpp), the Dogana (now a congress centre).

Literature: Österr. Kunsttopographie Band 57. Innsbruck - Hofbauten, 1986.