Stallburg: Home of the Lipizzaner Horses

The Stallburg, located in the heart of Vienna's Innere Stadt (Inner City), is a significant Renaissance structure with a rich history. Constructed between 1558 and 1565, Emperor Ferdinand I commissioned it as a residence for his son, Archduke Maximilian. However, Maximilian II converted it into imperial stables to house his Spanish horses after his father's death. The name 'Stallburg' (stable castle) originates from this period when the imperial family's horses were housed on the ground floor. From 1659 to 1776, the Stallburg housed the art collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm, forming the basis of the Kunsthistorisches Museum. In 1722, Emperor Charles VI commissioned the building of new imperial stables and the Imperial Court Library (Hofbibliothek). The art collection was eventually moved to the Upper Belvedere Palace. Today, the Stallburg continues its original purpose as the Viennese home for the Lipizzaner horses of the Spanish Riding School. Visitors can observe the Lipizzaners in the Stallburg's courtyard or sometimes see them crossing Reitschulgasse on their way to performances at the Winter Riding School. Although the Stallburg isn't generally open to the public, glimpses into the courtyard are possible through a vaulted passageway.