alfredlexx60 (Soldat Chvéïk de retour)
Wien, 1. Bezirk (the art of listed palace buildings of Vienna) - Palais Hofburg (Michaelerplatz); Michaelertrakt (Constantia et Fortitudine)
further pictures and a lot of information you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!)
Hofburg Michaelertrakt
Michaelertrakt
Famous dome
In his monumental outline to redesign the Hofburg Johann Lucas von Hildebrand in 1724 provided a large semi-cylindrical structure at St. Michael's Place, which was surmounted by a dome. For cost reasons, the overall planning was badly received by Emperor Charles VI. Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach had to design three new projects. They contained for the time being no central dome. Finally, he began with the construction of the Winter Riding School adjoining wing of the building, but this remained unfinished around 1735. Later pictures show a half-finished, to the cornice progressed rotunda. The whole thing gave a somewhat ruin-like impression. Under the following Habsburgs the provisional status quo was maintained. In place of the left wing of today's Michaelertrakt was namely since the times of Emperor Ferdinand I a small ballroom in which the Court society played badminton. Maria Theresa in 1740 allowed the Court musician Johann Selliers to convert these sports venue into a comedy house, which should be at disposal both the Yard and the High Society. After several renovations, it had in 1760 found its final shape. Here was almost 130 years written theater history and cultivated the famous Burgtheater German. The Hofburgtheater was a meeting place for the Viennese society. The royal box through a corridor was connected with the imperial apartments.
Michaelertrakt
1888, the last performance took place. Shortly thereafter, the theater was demolished. Meanwhile, it had been replaced by the new Burgtheater on the Ringstrasse. Only now was the chance to close the gap between the Hofburg Imperial Chancellery Wing and the Winter Riding School and erect a representative portal. The already 72 years old castellan of the castle Ferdinand Kirschner took on this task, basing himself on the plans of the architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, which after the construction of the Imperial Chancellery Wing remained unimplemented. Nevertheless, the door building of St. Michael's tract is an independent work of the late historicist Viennese Ringstrassen era. It was strongly influenced by unexecuted designs of Nicolaus Pacassi (1769) and Carl von Hasenauer (1888 ). Construction work was completed after four years of construction 1893. As building material largely Zogelsdorfer sandstone was used. By the end of the monarchy, the St. Michael's gate served as the main entrance to the Imperial Palace. Only in the year 1919 the passage for public has been opened. In the years 1987/88 an extensive exterior restoration took place which was followed by an interior restoration of the dome in 1990.
Michaelertrakt
The Michaelertrakt limits with its concave wings the southeast side of St. Michael's Square. It extends between the Winter Riding School and the Imperial Chancellery Wing. The large central dome and two side domes give the building an imperial expression, so that hardly any of the always numerous photographing tourists would hit upon the idea that with it only 25 years before the end of the monarchy a centuries-old provisional solution was removed. Art historically more significant than the two wings is Michaelertor (gate). The huge Rotundenbau (rotunda building) is Vienna's largest passageway. The main cornice of the portal building is supported by four fluted column pairs. The large groups of figures on the parapet above it were created by the sculptor Johann Benk. They symbolize the three virtues that every ruler should possess - justice, wisdom and strength. Just above the main gate are the by two genii supported imperial coat of arms of Johann Silbernagel and a building inscription attached. The entrances into the rotunda are flanked by four giant Heracles figures that stem from different sculptors (Edmund Hofmann, Anton Paul Wagner, Johann Scherpe and Josef Lax). They correspond to the Heracles groups that created Lorenzo Mattielli at the castle yard side. Already Fischer von Erlach had provided at the curved fronts on Michaelerplatz large niches for monuments. Kirschner here had two monumental fountains of Laaser marble attached, whose sculptures should symbolize the power and glory of Austria. The "power at sea" at the facade to the riding school was designed by Rudolf Weyr and the "power on land" at the corner to Schauflergasse by Eduard Hellmer.
Michaelertrakt
The powerful, with sheet copper covered dome over the rotunda looks like a giant emperor's canopy. It is decorated with gilded valances and is illuminated by barred oculi (Ochsenaugen, bulls eyes) inside. Their height is 54 m outside and inside 35 m. Similar designed but slightly smaller are the two side domes. In addition to the thoroughfare for the wagons and the cars, two large side portals for pedestrians lead into the rotunda. The upper part of the driveway is completed by a high-quality hand-forged decorative lattice. On the walls of the left pedestrian entrance the "welfare of the Emperor" (Providentia Augusti) and the "hope of the fatherland" (Spes Publica) are represented allegorically. The right passage shows the "piety of the Emperor" (Pietas Augusti) and the "loyalty of the people" (Fides Publica). At the left side the former stage door of the Old Burgtheater was preserved as a window. To St. Michael's square, in the passages two groups of figures can be found, the "departure of the ruler in the war" by Otto König and the "Victorious Homecoming" by Stefan Schwartz. From the large circular hall two staircases lead into the two adjoining wings up. The Batthyány staircase is named after Karl Graf Batthyány, a general of Prince Eugene, who later became educator and lord chamberlain of Emperor Joseph II. It led till the fall of the monarchy into the offices of the dreaded Lord chamberlain's office. The opposite Feststiege (grand staircase) is an imposing, späthistoristische (late historicist), three-arm staircase. On the ground floor is on the right the entrance to the eye-popping exhibition rooms of the royal table and silver chamber and the Imperial Apartments. On the left, in 2003 a new foyer for the Spanish Riding School was created. In the exit to the Inner Castle yard stand in pillar niches four groups of sculptures the mottoes of the Emperor Charles VI, Maria Theresa, Joseph II and Franz Josef II symbolizing. They originate from the studios of the sculptors Anton Brenek, Richard Kauffungen, Franz Becher and Josef Beyer. The rooms on the piano nobile of the Michaelertrakt are equipped with gilded stucco ceilings and doors from the turn of the century. Three paintings by Josef Fux in magnificent oak-wood frame show the pageant for the silver wedding of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth.
Location/Address: 1010 Vienna, St. Michael's Square
Activities: The Rotunda is accessible at any time, the Imperial Apartments and the Hofsilberkammer daily 9:00 to 17:00 (July/August 09:00 to 17:30)
Text + photos : www.burgen - austria.com
www.stadt-wien.at/wien/sehenswuerdigkeiten/hofburg-michae...
Wien, 1. Bezirk (the art of listed palace buildings of Vienna) - Palais Hofburg (Michaelerplatz); Michaelertrakt (Constantia et Fortitudine)
further pictures and a lot of information you can see by clicking on the link at the end of page!)
Hofburg Michaelertrakt
Michaelertrakt
Famous dome
In his monumental outline to redesign the Hofburg Johann Lucas von Hildebrand in 1724 provided a large semi-cylindrical structure at St. Michael's Place, which was surmounted by a dome. For cost reasons, the overall planning was badly received by Emperor Charles VI. Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach had to design three new projects. They contained for the time being no central dome. Finally, he began with the construction of the Winter Riding School adjoining wing of the building, but this remained unfinished around 1735. Later pictures show a half-finished, to the cornice progressed rotunda. The whole thing gave a somewhat ruin-like impression. Under the following Habsburgs the provisional status quo was maintained. In place of the left wing of today's Michaelertrakt was namely since the times of Emperor Ferdinand I a small ballroom in which the Court society played badminton. Maria Theresa in 1740 allowed the Court musician Johann Selliers to convert these sports venue into a comedy house, which should be at disposal both the Yard and the High Society. After several renovations, it had in 1760 found its final shape. Here was almost 130 years written theater history and cultivated the famous Burgtheater German. The Hofburgtheater was a meeting place for the Viennese society. The royal box through a corridor was connected with the imperial apartments.
Michaelertrakt
1888, the last performance took place. Shortly thereafter, the theater was demolished. Meanwhile, it had been replaced by the new Burgtheater on the Ringstrasse. Only now was the chance to close the gap between the Hofburg Imperial Chancellery Wing and the Winter Riding School and erect a representative portal. The already 72 years old castellan of the castle Ferdinand Kirschner took on this task, basing himself on the plans of the architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach, which after the construction of the Imperial Chancellery Wing remained unimplemented. Nevertheless, the door building of St. Michael's tract is an independent work of the late historicist Viennese Ringstrassen era. It was strongly influenced by unexecuted designs of Nicolaus Pacassi (1769) and Carl von Hasenauer (1888 ). Construction work was completed after four years of construction 1893. As building material largely Zogelsdorfer sandstone was used. By the end of the monarchy, the St. Michael's gate served as the main entrance to the Imperial Palace. Only in the year 1919 the passage for public has been opened. In the years 1987/88 an extensive exterior restoration took place which was followed by an interior restoration of the dome in 1990.
Michaelertrakt
The Michaelertrakt limits with its concave wings the southeast side of St. Michael's Square. It extends between the Winter Riding School and the Imperial Chancellery Wing. The large central dome and two side domes give the building an imperial expression, so that hardly any of the always numerous photographing tourists would hit upon the idea that with it only 25 years before the end of the monarchy a centuries-old provisional solution was removed. Art historically more significant than the two wings is Michaelertor (gate). The huge Rotundenbau (rotunda building) is Vienna's largest passageway. The main cornice of the portal building is supported by four fluted column pairs. The large groups of figures on the parapet above it were created by the sculptor Johann Benk. They symbolize the three virtues that every ruler should possess - justice, wisdom and strength. Just above the main gate are the by two genii supported imperial coat of arms of Johann Silbernagel and a building inscription attached. The entrances into the rotunda are flanked by four giant Heracles figures that stem from different sculptors (Edmund Hofmann, Anton Paul Wagner, Johann Scherpe and Josef Lax). They correspond to the Heracles groups that created Lorenzo Mattielli at the castle yard side. Already Fischer von Erlach had provided at the curved fronts on Michaelerplatz large niches for monuments. Kirschner here had two monumental fountains of Laaser marble attached, whose sculptures should symbolize the power and glory of Austria. The "power at sea" at the facade to the riding school was designed by Rudolf Weyr and the "power on land" at the corner to Schauflergasse by Eduard Hellmer.
Michaelertrakt
The powerful, with sheet copper covered dome over the rotunda looks like a giant emperor's canopy. It is decorated with gilded valances and is illuminated by barred oculi (Ochsenaugen, bulls eyes) inside. Their height is 54 m outside and inside 35 m. Similar designed but slightly smaller are the two side domes. In addition to the thoroughfare for the wagons and the cars, two large side portals for pedestrians lead into the rotunda. The upper part of the driveway is completed by a high-quality hand-forged decorative lattice. On the walls of the left pedestrian entrance the "welfare of the Emperor" (Providentia Augusti) and the "hope of the fatherland" (Spes Publica) are represented allegorically. The right passage shows the "piety of the Emperor" (Pietas Augusti) and the "loyalty of the people" (Fides Publica). At the left side the former stage door of the Old Burgtheater was preserved as a window. To St. Michael's square, in the passages two groups of figures can be found, the "departure of the ruler in the war" by Otto König and the "Victorious Homecoming" by Stefan Schwartz. From the large circular hall two staircases lead into the two adjoining wings up. The Batthyány staircase is named after Karl Graf Batthyány, a general of Prince Eugene, who later became educator and lord chamberlain of Emperor Joseph II. It led till the fall of the monarchy into the offices of the dreaded Lord chamberlain's office. The opposite Feststiege (grand staircase) is an imposing, späthistoristische (late historicist), three-arm staircase. On the ground floor is on the right the entrance to the eye-popping exhibition rooms of the royal table and silver chamber and the Imperial Apartments. On the left, in 2003 a new foyer for the Spanish Riding School was created. In the exit to the Inner Castle yard stand in pillar niches four groups of sculptures the mottoes of the Emperor Charles VI, Maria Theresa, Joseph II and Franz Josef II symbolizing. They originate from the studios of the sculptors Anton Brenek, Richard Kauffungen, Franz Becher and Josef Beyer. The rooms on the piano nobile of the Michaelertrakt are equipped with gilded stucco ceilings and doors from the turn of the century. Three paintings by Josef Fux in magnificent oak-wood frame show the pageant for the silver wedding of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth.
Location/Address: 1010 Vienna, St. Michael's Square
Activities: The Rotunda is accessible at any time, the Imperial Apartments and the Hofsilberkammer daily 9:00 to 17:00 (July/August 09:00 to 17:30)
Text + photos : www.burgen - austria.com
www.stadt-wien.at/wien/sehenswuerdigkeiten/hofburg-michae...