Burghauptmannschaft Österreich, Imperial Palace Innsbruck

Ownership

The Imperial Palace Innsbruck, which is the only cultural institution that is still owned by the Federal Republic of Austria, relies on a modern management and marketing concept.

In the year 1919, ownership of the Palace was transferred from the Habsburg court to the State of Austria. It is subject to the Federal Ministry Republic of Austria for Digital and Economic Affairs. Since 2000, the departments #202 – "Imperial Palace Innsbruck, Administration" and #305 – "Construction Innsbruck" have been in charge of managing the Imperial Palace; they are both regional, mostly independent departments of Burghauptmannschaft Österreich.

Facts and Figures

The Imperial Palace spans a total effective area of 26,300 m2 and has got a total cubic volume of 110,000 m3. According to a land register by Bundesdenkmalamt (Federal Monuments Office) it is deemed to be one of the three most significant monuments of Austria alongside Schönbrunn Castle and the Imperial Palace Vienna. The building accommodates 24 flats, ten offices and four public authorities (e.g. Tiroler Bildungsinstitut, Medienzentrum für Tirol, Forstliche Bundesversuchsanstalt), the museum cafeteria (Café Sacher in Innsbruck), the Imperial Apartments (museum, approx. 2,150 m²) as well as multiple event locations.

Business segments

  1. Museum – The fully accessible museum comprises 27 rooms of the imperial families’ former living quarters and state rooms which are situated on the second floor in the eastern wing. Scientific guidance, publications, restorations, guided tours in four languages and pedagogical interpretation for children are offered in the museum section.  
  2. Property management – The building complex of the Imperial Palace Innsbruck also contains offices and apartments that have been rented out. Responsibility of administration and maintenance lie with Burghauptmannschaft Österreich. The museum cafeteria on the ground floor of the southern wing (at Hofgasse Street) is rented by famous Hotel Sacher BetriebsGmbH. Extensive revitalisation started in 1992. The works comprised adaptations of the Gothic and Baroque Cellars, uncovering parts of the Roman city wall and the addition of a modern foyer as well as some rooms located opposite of it (Café Sacher). The historic building parts and rooms were equipped with modern HVAC.
  3. Event facilities – Since the large-scale vitalisation that took place in the years 1992-1997 Burghauptmannschaft Österreich has been an exhibition partner. The Imperial Palace Innsbruck is a cultural monument of European significance. As such, it is an important puzzle stone in the greater picture of Austria’s cultural identity and connects the past to the present. The exhibition programme embraces the motto "Plurality – Flexibility – Internationality". Indeed, the grand historic object and its furnishing bear the potential to cover a wide array of topics. The exhibition programme also takes the international relations maintained by the House of Habsburg into consideration, particularly those towards Italy. In addition, the foyer features contemporary exhibitions throughout the year.

Not to mention that the Palace rooms can be rented as event locations by public institutions, private companies, associations, and individuals. Renting out historic rooms requires a high degree of responsibility. Therefore, these rooms are rented out for low-impact use and high-end events only.