GOLDENES DACHL

Description

Essentials about the Goldenes Dachl in brief

It is the landmark of Innsbruck that is captured every day by thousands of tourists with their cameras: The Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof). The splendid late-Gothic oriel at the Neuer Hof (New Court) right in the center of Innsbruck’s old town is indeed an extraordinary sight. As the name suggests, the oriel’s roof is covered with 2,657 fire-gilded copper shingles, all of which have survived in their original state.

The history and architecture of the Goldenes Dachl

The ensemble of buildings of the Neuer Hof and the Goldenes Dachl was built during Innsbruck’s heyday in the 15th century. The New Court was built in 1420 as the residence of the Tyrolean rulers. On the occasion of the turn of eras in 1500, the magnificent oriel of the Goldenes Dachl was added from 1497 to 1500 on behalf of the German King and later Emperor Maximilian I, who chose Innsbruck as his place of residence. Maximilian allegedly enjoyed the view from the Goldenes Dachl of the colorful hustle and bustle of Innsbruck’s old town.

Reliefs on the oriel show Maximilian I with his two wives, chancellor, court jester, Morisk dancers and coat of arms (the original reliefs are preserved in the Tyrolean State Museum, by the way). In the background of the reliefs runs a banner with signs, which could not be deciphered so far. Some of the letters are inverted or upside-down Hebrew letters.

The Museum Maximilianeum

In 1996 the Maximilianeum Museum was established in the building, which was reopened as Museum Goldenes Dachl in 2007 after extensive expansion and renovation work. The museum tells the story of this unique building, its builder Maximilian I and his favorite residence Innsbruck.