In the inner courtyard of the Hofburg is the original main entrance to the palace, known as Schweizertor, or the Swiss Gate. This gate predates back to the Renaissance and its red black and golden colour stands out among the baroque architecture of its surrounding. Pass through the ornately decorated gate and you’ll reach the Swiss Wing and the chapel. If you have heard of the Vienna Boys Choir, do drop by on Sundays as my guide told me it’s one of the cheapest means of watching a live performance.
Through the Swiss Gate and into the Schweizerhof, is the entrance to the Imperial Treasury, the home of the imperial crown. Treasures and jewels from the entire reign of the Habsburg are on display here, including the Imperial Crown, Orb and Sceptre of the Holy Roman Empire, one of the most powerful empires of Europe. It truly amazes me, all these jewels and royalty. I thought the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London is opulent but the Habsburg certainly have exquisite taste. I wonder, with all those jewels on one person, you have to be quite fit to carry the weight of all those bling.
Normally EUR12, you can get in free with the Vienna Pass.
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(at Imperial Treasury, Vienna)