Hofkirche (Court Church), Innsbruck
The Hofkirche in Innsbruck. Photo under GFDL.
Statues of Maximilian's "ancestors." Photo under GFDL.
Interactive satellite map of the Hofkirche. For a larger view,
see our Innsbruck Map or Google Earth download.
The Hofkirche (Court Church) in Innsbruck, Austria, is a Gothic royal court church and mausoleum built in 1553.
The Hofkirche was built by Ferdinand I as a mausoleum for Maximilian I, and an elegant marble sarcophagus was made ready for him. But he was never actually buried here, but was entombed in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna, in 1519.
Emperor Maximilian's ornate black marble tomb is a great feat of German Renaissance sculpture and was intended to glorify the Holy Roman Empire. 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.
Tirol's national hero Andreas Hofer is also buried here. In addition to its tombs, the Hofkirche features a lovely Renaissance porch plus a nave and a trio of aisles in the Gothic style. One gallery contains nearly two dozen small statues of the saint protectors of the House of Hapsburg. The wooden organ, dating from 1560, is still operational.
The 16th-century Silberne Kapell (Silver Chapel), up the stairs opposite the entrance, has an elaborate altar and silver Madonna. The chapel was built in 1578 as the tomb of Archduke Ferdinand II and his wife, Philippine Welser, daughter of a rich and powerful merchant family.
The chapel takes its name from the large embossed silver Madonna in the center of the altarpiece, made of rare wood. The silver reliefs surrounding the Madonna symbolize the Laurentanian Litany. Tip: Visit the chapel for picture-taking in the morning; the blinding afternoon sun comes in directly behind the altar.
| Names: | Hofkirche; Court Church |
| Date: | 1553 |
| Address: | Universitätsstrasse 2, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria |
| Phone: | 0512/58-43-02 |
| Tram: | 1 or 3 |
| Hours: | Mon-Sat 9am-5pm |
| Cost: | 4.45€ adults, 1.45€ students or children, free for children 5 and under; combined ticket with Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum 5.45€ adults, 2.55€ children |
Sources
- Hofkirche - official website
- Court Church of Innsbruck (The Hofkirche) - TripAdvisor user reviews
