Hofburg Palace

Welcome to the heart of Vienna! You are standing before the Hofburg Palace, an architectural giant and the center of Austrian power for over seven hundred years. From the thirteenth century until nineteen eighteen, this was the winter residence of the Habsburg dynasty, one of the most influential royal families in world history. Today, it is more than just a museum; it is a living seat of power, housing the official office and workplace of the President of Austria. As you look around, you are seeing a city within a city, made up of eighteen wings and nineteen courtyards, encompassing nearly twenty-six hundred rooms. Take a moment to settle in and realize that every stone here has been a witness to the rise and fall of empires, the creation of modern world maps, and the daily lives of emperors and empresses. Let us begin our walk through seven centuries of history.