IMPERIAL TREASURY

Description

Essentials about the Imperial Treasury in brief

The Imperial Treasury is well worth a visit, and not just for jewelry and jewel lovers. After all, it is probably the most important treasury in the world, containing two imperial crowns, the Burgundian Treasure and the Treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The Treasury is housed in the oldest part of the Hofburg and is divided into a secular and a spiritual part.

The collection of the Imperial Treasury

The secular part of the Imperial Treasury also contains the highlights of the collection. First and foremost is the Crown of the Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation, created in the second half of the 10th century, with which the emperors of the empire were crowned. Other insignia of the Holy Roman Empire on display include the Holy Lance, the Imperial Sword and the Coronation Mantle.

The second important crown in the Imperial Treasury is the Austrian Imperial Crown. It was made in 1602 as a private crown for Emperor Rudolf II. From 1804 it functioned as the crown of the newly created Austrian Empire (however, no Austrian emperor was ever crowned with it). The scepter and the orb complete the insignia of the Austrian Empire. Last but not least, the 15th century Burgundian Treasure and the Treasure of the Order of the Golden Fleece, the highest-ranking order of the Habsburg monarchy, are among the highlights of the Imperial Treasury.