In the Hofburg’s oldest inner courtyard, the Habsburg Imperial Treasury contains a fascinating array of many of the empire’s most valuable artefacts. Gape at the crown jewels, ornate reliquaries, monstrances, embroidered vestments, a splinter of the 'true cross' (plus one of the nails). There's also the enigmatic Spear of Destiny, long believed to have been the one thrust into Christ’s side, and credited with granting (at least temporary) world domination to its long list of powerful owners, among others, Barbarossa, Constantine the Great, Charlemagne and Hitler.
10.06.2014
Lance Grundy
Great Britain A veritable treasure-trove containing some of the finest treasures in Christendom, the Imperial Treasury is a must-see while you are in Vienna.
The Treasury is split into two sections, the "Weltliche Schatzkammer" [secular/worldly treasury] and the ecclesiastical part, the "Geistliche Schatzkammer" [spiritual treasury] which between them contain numerous priceless artefacts.
Highlights for me included the Imperial Crown, Orb, Cross, and the Holy Lance of the Holy Roman Empire as well as a "Kreuzpartikel",or fragment, of the True Cross.
I managed to see it all in just under an hour although if you want to learn a little more than I did then you'll need to allow up to 2 hours for an audio tour.
Comments
Lance Grundy
Great Britain
A veritable treasure-trove containing some of the finest treasures in Christendom, the Imperial Treasury is a must-see while you are in Vienna. The Treasury is split into two sections, the "Weltliche Schatzkammer" [secular/worldly treasury] and the ecclesiastical part, the "Geistliche Schatzkammer" [spiritual treasury] which between them contain numerous priceless artefacts. Highlights for me included the Imperial Crown, Orb, Cross, and the Holy Lance of the Holy Roman Empire as well as a "Kreuzpartikel",or fragment, of the True Cross. I managed to see it all in just under an hour although if you want to learn a little more than I did then you'll need to allow up to 2 hours for an audio tour.