Capuchin Crypt

"An empire where the sun never sets".

The Habsburgs provided numerous German kings as well as Roman-German emperors for four centuries. Under their rule, the Danube monarchy developed into a major global power. From the first regent of the house in 1273 until their end with the resignation of Emperor Charles I in 1918, they played a decisive role in Europe. The Capuchin Crypt - also known as the Imperial Crypt - which is well worth seeing, has been the burial place of this famous dynasty since 1617.

By elevator to the crypt

About 150 members of the Habsburg family were buried here. The complex is made up of numerous burial chambers. In addition to the Founder's Crypt, there are also the Charles Crypt, the Franzens Crypt and the magnificently furnished Maria Theresa Crypt. An elevator already existed in the times of this empress. To this day, the elevator facilitates the descent into the vault for all visitors. The construction and furnishings of the individual rooms reflect the era in which they were built. Those interested in art history will discover splendid details from the Baroque and Rococo periods. In contrast, there are simpler chambers from the Biedermeier period and the modern, functional "New Crypt", which was created in the 1960s.

From Empress "Sissi" to Otto Habsburg

On the one hand, visitors are interested in art and architecture, on the other hand in the history of the personalities buried here. For many, Empress Elisabeth, the immortal "Sissi," is the most interesting. Her coffin is located in the "Franz-Josephs-Gruft", next to that of her husband and son Rudolf.

With Otto Habsburg, the last member of the famous dynasty found his resting place here in 2011. He lived to the age of 98. His life reads like a novel and represents the transition from monarchy to modern democracy.

A visit to the Capuchin Crypt is a journey through four hundred years of history and is definitely worthwhile when visiting Vienna.