Description of the attraction
The Hofkirche is one of the main attractions of the city of Innsbruck. It is located in the Old Town and is directly adjacent to the Hofburg Palace. The church itself is a large Gothic building, distinguished by its graceful spire with a bulbous dome. The Hofkirch houses the marble cenotaph of Emperor Maximilian I.
It was in memory of this outstanding ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, who died in 1519, that the church was erected. The construction was completed in 1553. It is curious that its appearance is almost entirely in the Gothic style, but the main portal was made in accordance with the Renaissance style prevailing at that time. But the interior design of the temple largely corresponds to the Baroque style, since the original interior was badly damaged during the earthquake of 1689. The sumptuous main altar dates from 1755. Also worth a look at the old chapel of 1578, famous for its altar of the Virgin Mary, made of pure silver. Here is buried the Archduke of Austria Ferdinand II, who built the Ambras Palace, located three kilometers from the city center.
However, of course, the cenotaph of Maximilian I, made of black marble and located in the central part of the cathedral, deserves special attention. Work on this masterpiece of the German Renaissance has been going on for over 80 years. The sarcophagus is decorated with bronze reliefs telling about the life of a crowned person, and on it there are monumental sculptures depicting the kneeling emperor and symbols of the four virtues. Another cenotaph is surrounded by 28 free-standing bronze monuments to the ancestors of Emperor Maximilian.
Also buried in the Hofkirche church is the Austrian people's hero Andreas Gofer, the organizer of the partisan resistance against the French and Bavarian invaders during the Napoleonic wars.
