Admire the Golden Roof

The golden roof was designed between 1497 and 1500 by Nikolaus Türing. The frescoes on the façade are attributed to Jörg Kölderer, the court painter. While the "glitz and glamour" of the roof will hold your attention for a few moments, we also recommend that you linger over the delicately sculpted reliefs on the balconies.

The golden roof was designed between 1497 and 1500 by Nikolaus Türing. The frescoes on the façade are attributed to Jörg Kölderer, the court painter. While the "glitz and glamour" of the roof will hold your attention for a few moments, we also recommend that you linger over the delicately sculpted reliefs on the balconies.

They represent the coats of arms of the eight countries ruled at that time by Emperor Maximilian. Their very fine, detailed style bears witness to the transition between late Gothic and early Renaissance art.

But make no mistake: these are not original reliefs, but copies! For reasons of preservation, the authentic versions have been kept at the Musée du Toit d'Or since 1952, to protect them from damage.

Don't just look at the outside of the building! Inside, an exciting museum awaits you. Open since 2019, it offers 6 different exhibition areas. You'll learn about the daily lives of the people of Innsbruck at the time the building was constructed, but also about the personality of Maximilian I, an ambitious emperor who was able to extend the Habsburg rule around the world.

The museum details a number of amusing anecdotes. For example, we learn that the reliefs on the façade depicting Maximilian I with his two wives are not a representation of love, but rather of politics.

The emperor did not want to fall out with the allies he had formed through his first marriage. His first wife, Mary of Burgundy, had died in 1482, which is why he remarried Blanche-Marie Sforza in 1494. Maximilian, well aware of the stakes involved in his first marriage (the links with the Duchy of Burgundy and the Burgundian Netherlands had to be preserved), wished to feature his first alliance on the façade.

The museum has also thought of children: a whole section of the exhibition is dedicated to them, with interactive installations on life in ancient times. They can also take part in an enigma quest within the museum. During your visit, you'll have the chance to climb to the top of the building, right where the emperor used to come to watch the duels. It's the perfect spot to take a panoramic photo of the city centre! The audio guide is included in the price of admission.