Ambras Castle Innsbruck: A must for culture lovers!

Ambras Castle Innsbruck is located above Innsbruck. The impressive Renaissance castle was once the residence of Archduke Ferdinand II and is now open to visitors.

Ambras Castle Innsbruck is simply part of a visit to Innsbruck. On a tour, you can stroll through magnificent rooms, discover the historic chamber of art and curiosities and experience beautiful gardens. Of course, there are also one or two places from which you have a great view over Innsbruck.

Ambras Castle Innsbruck

As early as the 10th century, the first counts resided in the castle complex on the site where Ambras Castle Innsbruck stands today. Henry the Proud destroyed this castle complex in 1133. It was not until 150 years later that the Andechs family decided to rebuild a castle there.

Due to inheritance, lack of descendants and marriages, ownership changed quite frequently over the next few years. Eventually, Ambras became a Tyrolean sovereign fortress. Together with the neighboring Straßfried Castle, it now controlled the route between Innsbruck, the Inn bridge near Hall, the low mountain plateau and the lower Wipptal valley.

On the death of Margaret of Tyrol in 1363, the castle fell to Emperor Maximilian I, a Habsburg. He used the castle as a hunting lodge. It was Archduke Ferdinand II who finally turned the castle into a magnificent palace during the Renaissance. Ferdinand created the famous Ambras collections, the Armory and the Chamber of Art and Curiosities, which are considered to be one of the oldest museum collections in the world. Before his death, he signed Ambras over to his wife, whom he had married in secret and was not befitting of his rank.

From 1665, Tyrol was no longer the seat of the prince. Ambras lost its importance. Until the middle of the 19th century, the palace was now used as a military hospital and military quarters. It was not until 1855 that Archduke Karl Ludwig decided to use the castle for residential purposes again.

The Imperial and Royal Ambras Collections Museum opened in 1880.

With the abolition of the monarchy after the First World War, the castle fell to the Republic of Austria.

Architecture and design

Around 1564, Archduke Ferdinand II commissioned the architect Giovanni Battista Fontana to convert the castle into a Renaissance palace. The conversion work initially began in the high castle and the extension of the western outer castle. The now famous Spanish Hall was built from 1569, while the Archduke’s pet project, the “Chamber of Art and Curiosities” and three armouries, were created from 1572. He gradually extended, embellished and modernized the castle, adapting it to his wishes and needs.

The next major changes were made by Archduke Karl Ludwig in the 19th century. He had the palace, which had been used as barracks in the meantime, redesigned as a residential palace. For example, a neo-Gothic stair tower was built on the south front, balconies on the north and west façades and a new gate wing.

The next major and drastic structural change began in 1877. After the decision was made to present the imperial collections to the public, suitable rooms were needed. Dilapidated buildings were demolished to make room for new buildings. These were equipped with the latest hanging and building techniques of the time. In 1880, the Museum k.k. Ambras Collections opened.

Visit to Ambras Castle Innsbruck – the first museum in the world

We took the hop on hop off bus from Innsbruck to Ambras Castle Innsbruck. You can use the sightseeing bus free of charge with the Innsbruck Card and it stops on the main road just a few meters from the castle.

After the short walk, you enter the castle grounds through the large gate in the wall. If you only want to look at the buildings from the outside, you can do so free of charge. However, to get into the exhibitions and rooms of the castle, you need an admission ticket. This can be obtained at the entrance to the Lower Castle, the most important part of the building in terms of cultural history, from where you can also start your tour. If you have an Innsbruck Card, you can visit the castle free of charge.

Armory

For us, the tour began in the castle’s armory. This extends over several rooms and, as the name suggests, displays all kinds of weapons and armor. Some of the pieces date back to the Renaissance and are quite rare. Archduke Ferdinand created this collection to honor the deeds of the generals and, of course, to underline the leading role of the Habsburgs.

The topic of weapons is not quite my favorite, but the old armor really inspired me. I’m always amazed at how small people were and, above all, how they were able to move around in these impractical suits. I find the idea that even horses were put into armor particularly irritating. Of course horses were expensive, but what use is the best and fastest animal if it can’t move freely?

Chamber of art and curiosities

The Chamber of Art and Curiosities is a highlight of Ambras Castle. It contains one of the most important European collections of “exotica” and offers a multitude of curiosities that reflect the curiosity and spirit of discovery of the Renaissance. The Ambras Chamber of Art and Curiosities was already considered one of the most important of its kind in the 16th century. It is the only Renaissance chamber of art that is still housed in the buildings erected for it.

Anyone walking through this collection must not forget one thing – it is very old! Many of the exhibits on display no longer represent a “miracle” today and are more likely to elicit a smile from the uninitiated visitor. At the time this collection was created, the exhibits were often unique, collected from all over the world or presented as gifts.

Anyone walking through the rooms with this view will discover one or two interesting pieces. Crystal goblets, silver and goldsmith’s work, precious glass and filigree turnery, musical instruments and scientific instruments can be admired in huge wooden cabinets. There are also pictures of people and animals, which were considered wonders of nature at the time.

Further exhibitions

In other exhibition rooms you will find other beautiful and often unique pieces. For example, there is a room known as the Antiquarium. Here you can discover objects from antiquity. In another room there are Gothic sculptures and then there is the Habsburg portrait gallery.

I was still very impressed by the Strasser glass collection. Prof. Rudolf Strasser has collected glassware for over 50 years. These come from the most important European production sites in Venice, Hall in Tirol, Innsbruck, Germany, Bohemia, Silesia and the Netherlands.

Strasser has collected over 300 pieces of glass from the Renaissance to Classicism and today a large part of the collection is in Innsbruck. I really like the glasses and some of the pieces reminded me of our visit to the glass factory in Karlsbad.

St. Nicholas Chapel

One of the most beautiful castle chapels I have ever seen is in Ambras Castle in Innsbruck. The St. Nicholas Chapel was built in the Middle Ages and rebuilt in the 16th century by the master builder Giovanni Lucchese. In the 19th century, the then Archduke had the vaulting in the nave renewed and the damaged wall paintings from the 16th century removed. A painter from Innsbruck was commissioned to redesign the chapel. He attempted to orientate himself on the original paintings.

I really like the murals and especially the light that falls through the church windows gives the room a very special glow.

The Spanish Hall

Archduke Ferdinand II had the Spanish Hall built in 1569-1572. Although the hall was seated during our visit, you could still appreciate its dimensions. At 43 meters long and 13 meters wide, I find it really very large and impressive.

The room is dominated by 27 full-length portraits of the Tyrolean sovereigns. Mythological scenes from antiquity can be seen in the window and skirting boards.

I particularly like the wooden coffered ceiling, which is partly gilded, and the beautifully designed flooring. A really impressive hall, in which unfortunately no lavish parties were celebrated, it served purely as a representation hall.

The castle park

At the end of your visit to Ambras Castle Innsbruck, you should not miss a visit to the castle park. It is wonderfully relaxing to walk along the paths and enjoy nature. The grounds are surrounded by a wall and laid out like an English garden.

Some areas of the castle park, such as the Bacchus grotto, the wheezing garden and the artificial waterfall are particularly worth seeing. I particularly liked the Venetian fountain in the Renaissance style right in front of the castle and you should definitely visit the paradise and herb garden.

Is it worth a visit?

We really enjoyed it. We were given interesting information about the history of the region and saw a fantastic castle complex. For us, Ambras Castle Innsbruck is one of the sights not to be missed.

Visitor information

Address

Schlossstraße 20
6020 Innsbruck

Website

The visit to Ambras Castle was part of a trip to Innsbruck.