Hofburg Imperial Palace Guide

As the sound of horse hooves echoes on the cobblestone streets of Vienna's Old Town, this unfinished center of imperial ambitions, with its 68-meter-high curved facade, reflects the final twilight of the Habsburg dynasty. The New Palace, the youngest "last prince" in the Hofburg complex, solidifies the Austro-Hungarian Empire's last struggle for world hegemony. As soon as you step into the magnificent gate of the Hofburg Palace, a strong historical atmosphere will hit you. This palace has been the political heart of the Habsburg family since the Middle Ages and has witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties. Walking in the corridors of the palace, every step seems to be stepping on the vein of time, making people involuntarily immersed in that glorious history. The New Palace (Neue Burg), as a shining new star in the Hofburg complex, with its neoclassical architectural style, showcases the European aesthetic pursuit from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. Walking in Heldenplatz, two towering bronze statues come into view - Prince Eugene of Savoy and Archduke Karl of Savoy, who respectively represent Austria's heroic history of resisting foreign invasions. In these two statues, the horses only have two feet on the ground to support the weight of the entire statue, which shows the unparalleled artistic skills of the sculptor Ficone and makes people marvel at the craftsmanship level of that era. Crossing the square, I walked into the Austrian National Library (Österreichische Nationalbibliothek). In this palace of knowledge, four statues at the entrance quietly speak of the virtues of wisdom, justice, strength and temperance. They are not only a symbol of the spirit of the library, but also the best interpretation of the endless pursuit of knowledge. Walking among the sea of ​​books, I seem to hear the whispers of history and feel the stories and wisdom behind each book. tips 1️⃣ Metaphor of the curved facade The 97 columns of the neoclassical facade correspond to the number of ethnic groups in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The chariot array on the cornice frieze was originally planned to be wrapped in pure gold, but Bohemian brass was used instead due to the outbreak of war. 2️⃣ The Sigh of the Knights’ Hall The 4-ton bronze chandelier was supposed to be hung on the 24-meter-high dome, but was eventually suspended at 17 meters due to structural problems, creating the most shocking "oppression aesthetics" space in Europe. 3️⃣ Ghost Platform The Imperial Railway Terminal, 15 meters underground, retains the royal train that did not depart in 1914, and the agate washbasin in the carriage still has water.