THE HOFBURG

The Hofburg, a sprawling palace complex in Vienna whose name translates as ‘royal castle’, has been at the beating heart of European politics for hundreds of years. First constructed towards the end of the 13th century, the palace was originally home to the ruling dukes of Austria. It was then passed into the domain of the Habsburg empire, whose monarchs held sway over vast tracts of Europe for hundreds of years. It was also home to the German emperor for a short spell before becoming the seat of the Austrian president.

As well as being steeped in various cultures and European history, the palace’s architecture also boasts myriad styles. For more than seven centuries new buildings have been added in Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo and Classicism designs, making the palace a reflection of the bright and vibrant court life that's existed within its walls.

Housing 18 groups of buildings, 19 courtyards and more than 2,500 rooms, the sprawling grounds occupy close to 24 hectares. No wonder the palace is often described