Hofkirche (Court Church) and Tomb of Maximilian I

The Hofkirche, or Court Church, at Universitätsstraße 2 in the Innenstadt of Innsbruck, Tyrol, is a Franciscan church built in the 16th century by Emperor Ferdinand I to house the tomb of his grandfather, Maximilian I. The centrepiece is the monumental empty cenotaph in the nave, a black marble sarcophagus topped by a kneeling bronze figure of the emperor and surrounded by relief panels showing episodes of his life. Maximilian was in fact buried in Wiener Neustadt, so the Innsbruck monument is a memorial rather than a grave. Lining the nave on both sides are 28 over-life-size bronze statues, known locally as the Schwarze Mander, or Black Men, which depict Habsburg ancestors, relatives and historical figures in elaborate armour and court dress. Several were cast in the workshops of Peter Vischer and designed with input from Albrecht Dürer, and the figures of King Arthur and Theodoric are among the most admired. The church also contains the silver chapel with the tomb of Archduke Ferdinand II and his wife Philippine Welser, and a Renaissance organ regarded as one of the oldest playable instruments of its type. The atmosphere is dark and hushed, with light entering through the high windows, so midday gives the best natural illumination of the bronzes. A visit takes 45 to 60 minutes. Visitors can walk slowly down the nave to see each statue at close range, and an audio guide helps identify the figures. The best photo angle is from the entrance end of the nave, looking along the line of statues toward the cenotaph. Crowds are heaviest at midday in summer and in the Advent season, while the first hour after opening is calmer. The entrance is shared with the neighbouring Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum, and a combined ticket covers both. Admission is about EUR 8, and entry is included in the Innsbruck Card. Visitors should dress modestly, as it remains a church.