The Court Church is above all known for the grave of the emperor Maximilian I and the “Black Men”
Image gallery: Court Church Innsbruck
On the edge of the historic district of Innsbruck, between the Museum of Tyrolean Regional Heritage and the Imperial Court, there is the famous Court Church (Hofkirche Innsbruck). On his death-bed, the emperor Maximilian I (1459 - 1519) expressed his wish to be sepulchered in the St. George's Chapel in the Wiener Neustadt Castle. This wish was fulfilled, but the 40 bronze statues which were commissioned for his grave-site came out to be too heavy for this place.
So his grandchild, Ferdinand I, had a separate church with an empty grave (cenotaph) established. The 40 larger than life-sized statues have, however, never been completed and only 28 were finally brought into being. These "Black Men" (Schwarze Mander) flank the grave-site and give the church the by-name "Black Men Church". Nevertheless the expression is not correct, as the bronze statues also comprise women, among them the two wives of Maximilian I.
Today the Court Church is the most significant monument of Tyrol and the most striking emperor's grave-site of Europe. It is an exemplary piece of European court art, as the best artists of those days such as Albrecht Dürer and Peter Vischer the Elder were involved. Also the Tyrolean freedom fighter Andreas Hofer is sepulchered here. A further highlight is the Ebert Organ of the Renaissance period, one of the most striking and ancient organs worldwide that is still in use.
Contact info
- Universitätsstrasse road 2 - 6020 - Innsbruck
- +43 512 59489-510
- volkskunstmuseum@tiroler-landesmuseen.at
Opening times
Despite careful control we cannot guarantee the correctness of the provided data.
Admission
single admission to the Court Church:
€ 9.00 adults
€ 7.00 seniors
€ 7.00 students (up to 26 years)
€ 7.00 groups (more than 10 persons)
free for children and young people under 19 years
free for school classes and people with disabilities
free with the Innsbruck Card and the Freizeit Ticket Tyrol
free admission for Christmas (December 24 and 25)
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combined ticket for the Tyrolean State Museums:
€ 14.00 adults
€ 11.00 seniors
€ 11.00 students (up to 26 years)
€ 11.00 groups (more than 10 persons)
More information
The combined ticket for the Tyrolean State Museums is valid for the five museums (Ferdinandeum, Museum of Tyrolean Regional Heritage, Court Church Innsbruck, Museum at the Armoury, THE TYROL PANORAMA with Museum of the Imperial Infantry) and for the TaxisPalais - Art Gallery Tyrol.
Admission is possible through the Museum of Regional Heritage, on Dec 25 via the main portal. An almost barrier-free access is possible via the main entrance in the Universitätsstrasse road.
The Court Church Innsbruck stays open every day all year round.
