Ambras Castle gets a makeover

There's something new at Ambras Castle in Innsbruck. As always, the pleasant rooms, the rich collections, the park with its old trees and views of the mountains and Innsbruck invite you to take a tour of Ferdinand II's residence. Strolling through the castle halls, among portraits, suits of armour and curious objects in the Wunderkammer never fails to bring new little discoveries. But this spring there is one more reason. The large foyer that connects the lower castle to the upper one is completely renovated. So I went to have a look.

The vaulted foyer from the 16th century, which is the entrance for visitors to the upper castle - the Schloss Ambras building that can be seen very well from a distance - has become a true multimedia exhibition hall. Illustrated panels, models, videos and touch screens tell the story of the castle, its protagonists and its collections over an area of 260 square metres.

The layout is pleasant and straightforward. The walls tell the many stories of Schloss Ambras: pictures of paintings, objects or historical documents from the castle's collections alternate with texts and videos, forming a rich collage of information which helps to take a journey through history and to place the exhibits in their context. All of this is done in an immediate language that makes the visit fluent and suitable also for children (the texts are in German and English). Much space is dedicated to the two protagonists of the castle and their - I would say legendary - union or, if we allow ourselves to be romantic, love story.

Ferdinand II of Habsburg (1529 - 1595), Archduke of Austria, takes over the government of Tyrol in 1567 the government of the Tyrol and moved with his wife to the Castle of Ambras near Innsbruck, considered one of the most beautiful palaces of the time. His wife, Philippine Welser, was a charming and cultured woman, the daughter of a rich merchant from Augsburg. Given the difference in rank, the two married secretly in 1557 and their marriage was permitted by Emperor Ferdinand I only two years later, on condition that it remained secret and that the children, although receiving the name "of Austria", inherited only if the male line of descent of the House of Habsburg was totally extinct. Ample space is devoted here precisely to the two protagonists of the castle. Portraits, texts and digital books tell us about their public and private lives and their passions. Like, for example, Philippine's passion for cooking.

Many aspects of Schloss Ambras are covered in this room. For those interested in history and weddings, the "branching" family tree of the Habsburg family is told in pictures. Then there is a model of the castle, where you can see the various buildings at a glance. The Schloss Ambras collections are also on display. The objects in the Wunderkammer came from all over the (then) world, and the archduke's collections were known and admired throughout Europe.
Among other things, a video takes us into the castle's Bacchus Grotto, a cool place for celebrations in which wine played a central role, which can also be visited in person. On this journey of discovery through Schloss Ambras, you'll learn about geology, with a final panel dedicated to the stone on which the castle stands.

Schloss Ambras
Schlossstraße 20, Innsbruck
Parking available
To reach Schloss Ambras by public transport look here

Timetable
Open Monday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm

Tickets
Full 16 euros, concessions 12 euros, family ticket 24 euros
Free admission for children up to 19 years of age and with Innsbruck Card