Imperial Crypt and Heart Crypt: Where the Habsburgs Rest
Ornate coffins, heart urns and a dynasty's burial rituals
TopicWienPhoto: C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- 2.0 hours
- Languages
- German, English
This private tour of the Habsburg burial sites in Vienna explains why the dynasty laid its dead to rest in three places. In the Imperial Crypt you stand before the coffins of Maria Theresa, Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.
Since 1633 the crypt beneath the Capuchin Church has been the Habsburg burial place. About 150 members of the family rest here, including twelve emperors and eighteen empresses. The double sarcophagus of Maria Theresa and Francis Stephen, a baroque masterpiece by Balthasar Ferdinand Moll, is especially striking.
For centuries the bodies were buried separately: hearts in silver urns in the Heart Crypt of the Augustinian Church, and entrails in the catacombs beneath St. Stephen's Cathedral. This ritual shows how closely power, faith and staging were linked.
Your guide tells you about the famous knocking ritual at funerals, about Empress Elisabeth and Crown Prince Rudolf, and about Habsburg burials that continued into the 21st century.
Highlights
- Maria Theresa's double sarcophagus
- The coffins of Franz Joseph, Sisi and Rudolf
- The Heart Crypt in the Augustinian Church
- The knocking ritual at the Capuchin crypt
- Habsburg death culture between humility and pomp
The route
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1Neuer Markt
Start at the plain Capuchin Church.
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2Imperial Crypt
Walk past coffins from baroque to modern times.
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3Augustinian Church
The court church and home of the Heart Crypt.
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4Josefsplatz
The court library and Hofburg in view.
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5St. Stephen's
Finish with the catacombs, the third burial site.
Who this tour is for
For history lovers and anyone who wants to get close to the world of the Habsburgs.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No, entrance fees are never included in the tour price. When you book, we are happy to tell you which admissions apply to your group.
How is the price calculated?
This is a private tour for your group only. The price is per group, not per person, which makes it great value for families and friends traveling together.
Is the Heart Crypt always open?
The Heart Crypt can only be seen at certain times. Your guide plans the route so you see as much as possible and tells its story either way.
