Kaiserliche Hofkirche

Innsbruck, Tyrol

In the Imperial Court Church, 28 black men stand guard, which is why the people of Innsbruck colloquially call it the “Schwarzmanderkirche” (Church of the Black Men). However, the life-sized bronze figures do not guard the church, but rather the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I inside it. Curiously: eight of the “black men” are women, and the Emperor's sarcophagus is empty. But it is artfully crafted and beautiful to behold.Highlights and HeroesMaximilian is actually buried in Wiener Neustadt. However, the church walls and foundations there were not stable enough for the weight of his companions, crafted with loving details. He had meticulously planned their construction before his death. Nevertheless, it took three decades after his passing for them to be completed. But who guards the Emperor post mortem? For this, the prince chose heroic and virtuous ancestors and figures. His two wives, Maria of Burgundy and Maria Sforza, are among them. As well as the Tyrolean Archduke Sigmund, King Ferdinand of Portugal, and even the legendary King Arthur.Resting Place of the Freedom FightersThe central place in the church is occupied by the imperial tomb. At the same time, the church houses legendary local heroes such as the freedom fighter Andreas Hofer. In 1809, he led thousands of brave Tyroleans on the Bergisel against the superior forces of the Napoleonic troops. And for this, he was executed in Mantua. But in Innsbruck, he is still revered as a hero. The Court Church is also the resting place of his comrades Josef Speckbacher, Joachim Haspinger, and Kajetan Sweth.Anyone visiting the Court Church should also not miss the Silver Chapel. Here, two other famous Innsbruck residents are buried: Archduke Ferdinand II and his wife Philippine Welser. During her lifetime, she was a local superstar: Queen of Hearts, herbal expert, bathing beauty, and even accused of witchcraft by malicious tongues. A magnificent silver altar with a Madonna by court architect Giovanni Lucchese dominates the room next to another special feature: an organ whose pipes are made exclusively of wood.Organs and ChoirOrgan fans will get their money's worth in the Court Church, as there are also two examples in the main room. Firstly, the almost 500-year-old swallow's nest organ by Jörg Ebert. It is the largest, best-preserved Renaissance organ in Austria. In the gallery, there is a younger example, built around 1900 by Hans Mauracher.