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  2. Austria
  3. Innsbruck
  4. Hofkirche (Court Church)

Hofkirche (Court Church), Innsbruck

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The Hofkirche (Court Church) in Innsbruck, Austria, is a Gothic royal court church and mausoleum built in 1553. In our opinion, it is the most interesting church in Innsbruck, featuring the unsurpassed tomb of Emperor Maximilian and the elaborate Silver Chapel.

History

The Hofkirche was built by Ferdinand I as a mausoleum for Maximilian I (d. 1519) in 1553. An elegant tomb was made ready for him, but he was never moved here from his original burial place in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna.

What to See

Innsbruck's Hofkirche is entered not by the main church door, but down a little further to the left. It shares an entrance with the Tiroler Volkskunst-Museum (Museum of Tirolean Folk Art); combination tickets are available.

Emperor Maximilian's ornate black marble tomb, intended to glorify the Holy Roman Empire, is a fine example of German Renaissance sculpture and the highlight of the Hofkirche. It is surrounded by 24 marble reliefs depicting his accomplishments, as well as 28 larger-than-life-size statues of his real and legendary ancestors, including King Arthur of England. Three of the statues are based on designs by Dürer.

The Silberne Kapell (Silver Chapel), up the stairs opposite the entrance, has an lavish altar with a silver-embossed wood Madonna. The silver reliefs around here represent the Laurentanian Litany. The chapel was built in 1578 as the tomb of Archduke Ferdinand II and his wife, Philippine Welser, the daughter of a powerful merchant family.

In addition to its main attractions, the Hofkirche offers an attractive little cloister, a lovely Renaissance porch and a lofty Gothic nave with three aisles. A gallery contains over 20 small statues of the patron saints of the House of Hapsburg and the original wooden organ (1560) is still in use. Tirol's national hero Andreas Hofer is also buried in the Hofkirche.


Quick Facts on Hofkirche (Court Church)

Site Information
Names:Court Church; Hofkirche; Hofkirche, Innsbruck
City:Innsbruck
Country:Austria
cat:Royal Chapels; Churches
faith:Christianity; Catholic
feat:Famous Grave
style:Gothic; Renaissance
Dates:1553
Status:museum
Visitor and Contact Information
Address:Universitätsstrasse 2, Innsbruck, Austria
Coordinates:47.268257° N, 11.395279° E  (view on Google Maps)
Opening Hours:Mon-Sat 9am-5pm
Cost:€4.45 adults, €1.50 students or children, free under age 5
Transport:Tram: 1 or 3
Website:www.hofkirche.at
Lodging:View hotels near this location
Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Map of Hofkirche (Court Church)

Below is a location map and aerial view of Hofkirche (Court Church). Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

References

  1. Personal visit (October 25, 2010).
  2. Hofkirche - Frommers.com
  3. Hofkirche Review - Fodors.com
  4. Hofkirche - official website
  5. Court Church of Innsbruck (The Hofkirche) - TripAdvisor user reviews

More Information

Article Info

Title:Hofkirche (Court Church), Innsbruck
Author:Holly Hayes
Last updated:01/24/2011
Permalink:www.sacred-destinations.com/austria/innsbruck-hofkirche
Link code:<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/austria/innsbruck-hofkirche">Hofkirche (Court Church), Innsbruck</a>