Schloss Ambras Innsbruck

Schloss Ambras Innsbruck, at Schlossstraße 20 in the Amras district on the eastern edge of Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria, is a Renaissance castle that Archduke Ferdinand II of Tyrol transformed in the 16th century into a residence for his wife Philippine Welser and a home for his collections. It is widely regarded as the oldest surviving museum in the world, and the Chamber of Art and Curiosities (Kunst- und Wunderkammer) preserves the original arrangement of the Archduke's cabinets, with curiosities, natural objects, goldsmith work, glass, clocks and exotic items grouped by material. The Armoury (Rüstkammern) contains knights' armour and weapons assembled by Ferdinand, while the Habsburg portrait gallery, in the Lower Castle, displays portraits of Habsburg rulers and ancestors in the Spanish style. The Spanish Hall (Spanischer Saal) is the high point of the architecture: a Renaissance festival hall with a coffered wooden ceiling, painted portraits of Tyrolean rulers and inlaid doors, still used for concerts. The castle sits within a landscaped English-style park with old trees, pond areas and shaded paths, which is pleasant to walk in on a fine day and offers views back to the castle and to the mountains. A visit takes two to three hours with the park, and visitors wanting to see all collections should plan on the longer end. Crowds are modest outside July and August, with tour groups arriving mid-morning, so spring and summer mornings are ideal, especially for the park. The castle can be closed in the low season for revision, so verifying opening dates on schlossambras-innsbruck.at before travelling is important. Admission is about EUR 14, and entry is included in the Innsbruck Card. Visitors reach the castle by bus or the Sightseer bus from the centre in about 15 to 20 minutes. Hours are usually 10:00 to 17:00 in season.