Join us for a visit to a place highlighting 400 years of Austrian and European history from the Thirty Years’ War to the revolutions and first ideas for a united Europe.
The imperial Habsburg used the Imperial Crypt, Kaisergruft (also called Kapuzinergruft) under the Capuchin Church for their private family cemetery since 1632. The crypt is located on the Neuer Markt square just a step away from the Hofburg Palace. Althoug it was originally meant for two coffins only, it has served as the principal place of entombment for members of the House of Habsburg and you will find there the bones of 145 Habsburg royals. Among these, you will see 12 emperors and 18 empresses. In terms of funeral fashion, expect to see 107 metal sarcophagi ranging from puritan plain to a flamboyant rococo.
The first entombment took place in 1633 when the simple sarcophagi of Emperor Matthias and Empress Anna were transferred to the Founders' Vault. The last one took place in 2023 when Yolande de Ligne, wife of the fifth child of Emperor Charles I and Princess Zita moved in. These days, the current Habsburgs, turned into non-royal and non-imperial, need to find tombs for themselves elsewhere. The capuchin friars in the monastery surrounding the church remain guardians of the vaults.
The most magnificent sarcophagus is certainly the double one of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Franz I Stephan of Lorraine in late Baroque style. In 1989, the last but one of the tomb takers was the last empress Zita, widow of the last emperor. Her hubby, Charles died in exile in Madeira and was buried there, while Zita became the last person who travelled to the vault in the imperial funeral coach that we reviewed earlier in the Imperial Carriage Museum.
Interestingly, the Mexican community seems to keep flowers in front of the sarcophagus of Emperor Maximilian of Mexico, the younger brother of Emperor Franz Josef. Sisi, for her part has even love letters in front of hers.
Perhaps one of the most interesting figures is the eldest son of the last emperor, Otto. He had expressly renowned all dynastic claims and accepted status as private citizen, and dedicated his life to promote peace in Europe, among others, as a member of the European Parliament for twenty years. The 2011 burial was probably the last one where the European royal circles widely attended a Habsburg funeral despite the fact that in Austria, Otto was known as Mr Habsburg after the state had abolished his family's titles in 1919. (The rest of the family abroad hang on to their noble title with a "von" in front of it even if it is not particularly imperial.)
The crypt is fully accessible. There are no steps at the main entrance and a good lift down to the vaults. The only exception are the three steps to the tomb of Emperor Frank Josep and the burial vault chapel. There is an accessible restroom but unfortunately it is locked and you need to ask the staff to open it for you.
There are lockers for you to leave coats and bags and a small museum shop selling T shirts and all sorts of Habsburg stuff, possibly interesting for those loving the imperial history.
There is no museum café but just step outside and you will find dozens of overpriced cafés and restaurants in the inner touristic centre around the crypt.
Tegetthoffstraße 2
Neuer Markt
1010 Wien
Comments