Imperial Crypt, Vienna
Just beneath Vienna’s bustling New Market square—right next to the Hofburg Palace and well within ghost-whispering distance of history—you’ll find the Imperial Crypt, also known as the Capuchin Crypt. Sounds mysterious? Oh, it is indeed. This underground vault has been hosting the who’s-who of the Habsburg dynasty since 1633, and let's just say... the guest list is pretty exclusive.
The idea for this eternal VIP lounge came from Anna of Tyrol, wife of Emperor Matthias. In a rather poetic twist, she signed off on the funds in her will in 1617 and died a year later, followed promptly by her husband. Talk about a couple with a plan...
Formally consecrated in 1632, the crypt now holds 145 Habsburgs, including 12 emperors and 18 empresses. And for those who preferred a more minimalist approach to eternal rest, there are also heart urns—because why be buried once when you can be distributed like royalty?
Inside, you’ll find 107 ornate metal sarcophagi ranging from “modestly morbid” to “rococo realness.” It’s part cemetery, part sculpture gallery, and part history lesson with a Gothic flourish.
Come to think of it, this isn’t just a tomb. It’s the final chapter of an empire written in bronze and baroque. It’s where Vienna whispers her imperial secrets. And let’s be honest—what’s a trip to Vienna without a little royal drama from six feet under?
The idea for this eternal VIP lounge came from Anna of Tyrol, wife of Emperor Matthias. In a rather poetic twist, she signed off on the funds in her will in 1617 and died a year later, followed promptly by her husband. Talk about a couple with a plan...
Formally consecrated in 1632, the crypt now holds 145 Habsburgs, including 12 emperors and 18 empresses. And for those who preferred a more minimalist approach to eternal rest, there are also heart urns—because why be buried once when you can be distributed like royalty?
Inside, you’ll find 107 ornate metal sarcophagi ranging from “modestly morbid” to “rococo realness.” It’s part cemetery, part sculpture gallery, and part history lesson with a Gothic flourish.
Come to think of it, this isn’t just a tomb. It’s the final chapter of an empire written in bronze and baroque. It’s where Vienna whispers her imperial secrets. And let’s be honest—what’s a trip to Vienna without a little royal drama from six feet under?
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Imperial Crypt on Map
Sight Name: Imperial Crypt
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Vienna
Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Vienna Old Town Walking Tour
Vienna’s Old Town—the historic core of Austria’s capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—is where cobblestones gossip, rooftops sparkle, and emperors still seem to whisper from the walls. Indeed, this is the kind of place where every alley seems to have a PhD in European history.
Once wrapped in medieval walls—before they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Once wrapped in medieval walls—before they rolled out the grand Ringstrasse boulevard in the 19th... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Old Town Churches Walking Tour
"Vienna is the city of miracles and music" – Whoever said that must have emphasized Vienna's close association with the Christian faith. The intertwining of Christian heritage and artistry in the Austrian capital finds expression primarily in its magnificent churches.
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Sitting at "the crossroads of Christian traditions", Vienna is home to various Christian... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Klimt Paintings Tour
"I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist, the only notable thing - ought to look carefully at my pictures" – Gustav Klimt.
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour I
Vienna’s flirtation with Art Nouveau—known locally as Jugendstil—unfolded in the late 19th, early 20th centuries. The so-called Vienna Secession movement, which emerged in 1897, was led by a group of rebellious artists and architects like Otto Wagner, Gustav Klimt, and Koloman Moser, who turned their backs on historicism in favor of bold, modern aesthetics. As the new language for buildings,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles
Famous Homes of Vienna
Throughout centuries, the Austrian capital has been home to numerous famous individuals, from creative people of arts to thinkers, scientists, and politicians. Vienna's illustrious history is closely intertwined with the abodes of its celebrated residents, where artistic virtuosos and luminaries of their time found solace and inspiration.
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Mozart Walking Tour
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart spent a significant portion of his life in Vienna. Here, he achieved recognition, and the city holds enormous historical and cultural significance for his legacy. Mozart first visited Vienna as a child prodigy in 1762, and in 1781 came here to stay.
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
The city met the composer with a vibrant and cosmopolitan atmosphere brought about by some of the top musicians and artists... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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