Hofkirche (Court Church), Innsbruck
View of the Hofkirche from the City Tower. Photo
Jay.
Front of the Hofkirche, with carriage rides. Photo
Bonaria Biancu.
Interior of the Hofkirche, with its many monuments. Public domain photo.
Statues of Maximilian's "ancestors." Photo under GFDL.
Duke Leopold (left) and King Arthur (right). Public domain photos.
The Hofkirche (Court Church) in Innsbruck, Austria, is a Gothic royal court church and mausoleum built in 1553. It is notable for its tomb of Emperor Maximilian and the elaborate Silver Chapel.
History
The Hofkirche was built by Ferdinand I as a mausoleum for Maximilian I, and an elegant marble sarcophagus was made ready for him. He was never actually buried here, however - he was entombed in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna, in 1519.
What to See
Emperor Maximilian's ornate black marble tomb is a fine example 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 in the Hofkirche.
In addition to its tombs, the Hofkirche has a lovely Renaissance porch and a Gothic nave with side aisles. A gallery contains over 20 small statues of the patron saints of the House of Hapsburg. The original wooden organ (1560) still works.
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, daughter of a rich and powerful merchant family.
Quick Facts
| Names: | Hofkirche; Court Church |
| Date: | 1553 |
| Address: | Universitätsstrasse 2, Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria |
| Phone: | 0512/58-43-02 |
| Website: | www.hofkirche.at |
| 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 |
| Tip: | If you want to take photos of the Silver Chapel, do so in the morning as the sun comes in directly behind the altar in the afternoon. |
Location Map
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Hofkirche in Innsbruck. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Innsbruck Map or get our free Google Earth download.
Sources
More Information
- Hofkirche - official website
- Court Church of Innsbruck (The Hofkirche) - TripAdvisor user reviews
