Hopping Through Hofburg

Whether it was the Habsburgs in the 13th century or the Holy Roman Emperors of the 15th, the Hofburg palace has been an imperial seat of power for over 600 years. The monarchy may have ended in 1918, but the palace now serves as the offices of power for the Republic of Austria, including its democratically elected President and the chancellor's ministers.

Originally a medieval castle and fortress, the building grew over the centuries into a mini-city of sorts. The massive complex includes 18 wings, 19 courtyards and 2,600 rooms. Specific structures include the Old Fortress, the Swiss Gate, the Palace Chapel (where the Vienna Boys Choir sings on Sundays) and the Imperial Treasury, which still houses the regalia of the Roman and Austrian Empires. There's also the more recent New Hofburg, which holds the National Library and other collections. The Hofburg also offers some of the only Renaissance-style structures in the capital city.

For those who want to visit, a ticket opens the door to three main sections of the palace. First, there's the Imperial Silver Collection to give guests an idea of how the Austrian royals used to party. This includes everything from dining services to centerpieces measuring nearly 100 feet in length. Second, there's the Sisi Museum with many of the personal items of Empress Elisabeth, because if there's anything an empress wants it's having her dirty laundry placed in display cases. Finally, guests can visit the Imperial Apartments — the word "apartment" being used loosely — to see how Emperor Franz Josh and his wife Elisabeth lived. Their "apartment" had 19 rooms.

Vienna was the figurative seat of power in Central Europe for many centuries in days past, but the Hofburg was the literal seat. Now if only they'd let us tourists sit on that throne.