The Hofburg is the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty in Austria. Located in the centre of Vienna, it was built in the 13th century and expanded several times afterwards. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence. Since 1946, it is the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria.
Older castle sections (left), Neue Burg section (center of image) and Outer Castle Gate (separate on the right), in foreground the Heldenplatz.
Reconstructive drawing of the appearance of the castle until the 16th century
The Swiss Gate (Schweizertor), original main gate
Austrian Crown Jewels kept in the treasury in the Swiss Wing of the Hofburg
The Austrian National Library is the largest library in Austria, with more than 12 million items in its various collections. The library is located in the Neue Burg Wing of the Hofburg in center of Vienna. Since 2005, some of the collections have been relocated within the Baroque structure of the Palais Mollard-Clary. Founded by the Habsburgs, the library was originally called the Imperial Court Library ; the change to the current name occurred in 1920, following the end of the Habsburg Monarchy and the proclamation of the Austrian Republic. The library complex includes four museums, as well as multiple special collections and archives.
Austrian National Library entrance at Heldenplatz
Court Library (Hofbibliothek) entrance at Josefsplatz
View of the imperial library at Josephsplatz (1835)
The Prunksaal, center of the old imperial library