WELCOME
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• HOFBURG
BurghauptmannschaftÖsterreich, Hofburg Innsbruck
Rennweg1, 6020 Innsbruck
+43512587186,
• HOFKIRCHE
Tiroler Landesmuseen, Hofkirche
Universitätsstr. 2, 6020 Innsbruck
+4351259489510,
• SCHLOSSAMBRAS
ArtHistoryMuseumSchlossAmbras
Schloßstraße20, 6020 Innsbruck
+431525244802,
• BURGHASEGG
MünzeHall &Münzerturm
BurgHasegg6, 6060Hall
+4352235855-165,
• SCHLOSSTRATZBERG
6200 Jenbach
+43524263566,
open form28/03/14–02/11/14
colorful facades always fascinates, as do the arcade halls and the
many bowfronts in the Old Town of Innsbruck, of which themajority
wereerectedbetween1490and1520. TheHofburg imperial residence
of the Emperor was also completed under the reign of Maximilian
in the year 1500. His two wives also lived here, Bianca Maria Sforza,
with her Italian court maidens, who suffered from both the cold
climateandboredom.
ToEternal “gedechtnus“
The Hofkirche and the adjoining Neu Stift, which has been the Tyro-
lean FolkMuseum since 1929, are located accross from the Hofburg.
The Hofkirche (1553–1563), popular far beyond the borders of Tyrol,
hosts the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. Innsbruck‘smost significant
work of art was erected “in eternal glory to the House of Habsburg”.
Three generations of Habsburgs provided for the completion of the
tomb. Itwasworkedon for 82 years! 28 larger-than-lifebronze statu-
es, the “VIP’s” of their time, consisting of ancestors, family members
andhistorical heroes, stand guard inmourning. The church itself was
onlyerectedaround40 yearsafter theEmperor‘sdeath (1519) topro-
vide an appropriate place for the statues. The table tomb “das Hoch-
grab” or cenotaph, was added later in the1560’s –however it is emp-
ty, asMaximilian I. still rests inWienerNeustadt. The24marble reliefs
at the cenotaphdepict themost important scenes of the lifeofMaxi-
milian in enormous perspective and depth. They were worked on by
Alexander Colin around 1560–66. On the reliefs one can find all the
significant European countriesof the time, representing stagesofMa-
ximilian‘s life. That ishow Innsbruckcame tohave themost important
gravememorial, without ever havingharbored thedeceasedEmperor.
AGiftedSelf-Promoter
Not only did he have himself chiseled twice on the Golden Roof, but
also on the Armory Tower on the East entrance of the Old Town. This
self-promoting structure, which was typical of Maximilian, portrays
54 emblembs on its facade. Amongst them were the so-called “An-
spruchswappen” or emblembsof countries that hewouldhavehappily
possessed. Power and propaganda weremost important to him, and
heknewexactlyhow toportrayhimself andhis family in thebest light.
EarlyEuropean
With the help of print, Maximilian succeeded in popularizing his gra-
phic-print works throughout Europe, and spread leaflets as political
propaganda. In regards tohismarriagepolitics, he alsoactedas aEu-
ropean: He consolidatedhis dynastic interests bymeans of spectacu-
lar doubleweddings, be it inSpain (1496–97) or inBohemia-Hungary
(1515), throughwhich theEmpireexperienceda substantial growth in
”I live, don’t knowhow long, I die, don’t
knowwhen,mustmove, don‘t knowwhere,
I’m surprised, that I am sohappy ...”
territory and territorial power. He attained Burgundy bymeans of his
firstmarriage toMaria.
AHommage toMaximilian
Maximilian I. is “the” Emperor personified, with the largest presence in
Innsbruck: this is how all of the Old Town including the Golden Roof,
theHofkirchewith itsgravemonument, theHofburg in itsearly stages
and theZeughaus remembers this popular Emperor. He is, to this day,
present in theheartsof thepeopleof Innsbruckasa rulerwhopromo-
tedscienceand theartsandactedasaEuropean. Hewasapassionate
sportsman,which increasedhisaffinity toTyrol, his first independently
governed territory.
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Hall, BurgHaseggheute //
Hall, HaseggCastle today
