Hofburg Palace
Hofburg Palace is the former imperial palace in the centre of Vienna, Austria. Built in the 13th century and expanded in the centuries since, the palace has been the seat of power of the Habsburg dynasty rulers, and today houses the official residence and workplace of the President of Austria. It was the principal imperial winter residence, as Schönbrunn Palace was the summer residence.
Since 1279, the Hofburg area has been the documented seat of government. The Hofburg has been expanded over the centuries to include various residences (with the Amalienburg and the Albertina), the imperial chapel (Hofkapelle or Burgkapelle), the court library (Hofbibliothek), the treasury (Schatzkammer), the court theatre, the Spanish Riding School (Hofreitschule), and the imperial mews (Stallburg and Hofstallungen).
The magnificent Throne Room (Zeremoniensaal) was used until the end of the Habsburg monarchy in 1918. Napoleon Bonaparte asked the Emperor for the hand of Marie Louise in marriage in this very hall. A fantasy of rose and candlelight, it has 24 pink Corinthian columns and 26 gloriously large chandeliers, once lit by 1,300 candles. Today, they have been converted to electric but still gives the illusion of candle light.
The second Animalis Edition of the World Branding Awards ceremony and gala dinner took place in the Hofburg’s Throne Room in July 2019, and is due to return in August 2021.