JO LEE MAGAZINE - Power Edition 2021

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Austria
Hofburg Palace
By Susan Berger
New York / San Francisco / Hong Kong / London / Tokyo /
Rome / Toronto
One of the largest palace complexes in the world, the Hofburg Imperial
Palace has housed every Austrian ruler since 1275, most of whom ordered
additions or alterations. Originally a medieval fortified castle, it now
contains 700 years of architectural styles, including Gothic, Renaissance,
Baroque and Rococco. Considered a “city within a city”, it covers 240,000
square meters in the center of Vienna and contains 18 groups of buildings,
magnificent gardens, 19 courtyards and 2600 rooms.
The Hofburg, which means “Castle of the Court” was, until the end of
World War I, the residence and political center of the Hasbsburg emperors
and the kings of the Holy Roman Empire. The oldest part of the Hofburg
is the Alte Burg, or Old Fortress, which, since the 18th century, has been
called the Schweizertrakt (Swiss Wing) after the Swiss Guards who
protected the palace. The Royal Chapel, or Burgkapelle, dates from the
13th century and is the home of the renowned Vienna Boys’ choir, which
can be seen today during Sunay mass services. The Court Library, built in
the 18th century to house the Habsburgs’ collection of books, is now the
Austrian National Library. Since 1918 the palace has been the center of
government for the democratic Republic of Austria. The current President
lives in the Leopoldine Wing, which sits above what was at one time the
massive three-story Hofburg imperial wine cellar.
In addition to being the seat of government, it is also a tourist attraction,
and visitors can tour the Imperial Apartments, where the last monarch,
Empress Elisabeth, lived, as well as the Sisi Museum, the Silver Collection
and the Spanish Riding School, active since 1565, where Lipizzan horses are
trained and perform.
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