Imperial Treasury Vienna

The main door hints at what to expect in the Schatzkammer (Imperial Treasury): it looks suited to a bank vault. Behind it, crown jewels and relics from centuries of Habsburg rule. The Schatzkammer houses a number of items for which the word “priceless” really does apply. Most stem from the time of the Habsburgs, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Austrian Empire. The displays divide across secular and ecclesiastical sections, though everything is part of one complex. What you get is a trip through over 1000 years of history in the form of imperial status symbols. Expect crowns and ceremonial robes, swords and scepters, gems and jewelry, relics and rich altar tapestries. The collection represents a literal treasure trove for history aficionados, since the exhibits put you in touch with momentous events of the past.

For example, imagine the coronation of a Holy Roman Emperor hundreds of years ago… The ceremonial robes are inside the Schatzkammer. And the crown, too. Imagine the great Emperor Charlemagne seeking inspiration in the pages of his bible in the early 9th century. The bible’s here. Or imagine Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon, leaning over her son’s throne-like cot on a cold evening, singing lullabies in accented French. The cot’s here.

For those of a Christian leaning, some of the relics will inspire awe. Since no records go back far enough, we have no proof of authenticity, of course, but the relics’ stories, acquisition history (dating back as far as the 12th century and beyond) and presentation (in displays of exquisite workmanship) have value in their own right.

https://www.visitingvienna.com/sights/museums/schatzkammer/

Photo: Bede735c