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All Austria Innsbruck Chamber of Art and Curiosities

Chamber of Art and Curiosities

Archduke Ferdinand II's collection of rare objects is considered one of the oldest museums in the world.

Innsbruck, Austria

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Gretchen Mora
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Chamber of Art and Curiosities.   Daderot/Public domain
Glass Bell Piano.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Painting of Vlad the Impaler.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_the_Imp...
Sculpture and secret safe.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Schloss Ambras.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
The Spanish Hall in the main building.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
‘Portrait of a disabled man’, oil on canvas (16th century).   Public domain
Lathe masterpiece.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Death contemplating the fragility of life.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Very old, stuffed shark.   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Automaton Clock   gretchenmora / Atlas Obscura User
Crucifixion scene made from coral.   Daderot/Public domain
Painting of Hungarian nobleman Gregor Baci, who was healed after having a lance pierce his right eye during a tournament.   Public domain
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In 1563, after being appointed provincial sovereign of Tirol, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand II ordered Italian architects to begin turning a 10th-century medieval fortress in Tirol's capital city into a Renaissance-style castle for his wife Philippine Welser, whom he’d married in secret some years earlier. 

Parts of Schloss Ambras (Ambras Castle) were specifically built to store the archduke's massive collection of rare objects, which became known as the Chamber of Art and Curiosities. His collection is the only wunderkammer from the Mannerism period that remains in its original place today, and is consequently considered one of the oldest museums in the world. 

Cabinets of curiosities came into prominence in Europe during the Renaissance era. These "wonder rooms" contained religious artifacts, paintings, oddities, and natural relics, and were often used to prove a nobleman’s refined and interesting tastes.

Ferdinand II's curiosity cabinet still houses a one-of-a-kind glass bell piano—the only one to have survived to the present day. There’s a stuffed shark and a tree with antlers that appear to be growing from it. The collection features figurines of death, objects from far-off lands, rare products of nature, portraits of people thought to be "miracles" like the Hirsute Man, and unusual musical instruments. Centuries later, the amazing collection can still be enjoyed in the castle chambers built to house the precious items.

Related Tags

Art History Collections Museums Castles Wunderkammers

Know Before You Go

Without a car, the best way to get to the Schloss Ambras is by the Hop On/Hop Off Sightseer bus. Tickets for a round-trip on the bus are 15 euro. You can leave from many locations around Innsbruck. Tickets for the Schloss Ambras are 16 euro for adults. Audio guide is an extra 4 euro. Spend about 1-2 hours and check out the fabulous main castle and Hapsburg portrait gallery.

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gretchenmora

Edited By

sandra mag baeume, Michael Inscoe

  • sandra mag baeume
  • Michael Inscoe

Published

October 27, 2017

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  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_of_Art_and_Curiosities,_Ambras_Castle
  • https://www.schlossambras-innsbruck.at/en/visit/collections/chamber-of-art-and-curiosities/
  • https://www.schlossambras-innsbruck.at/en/visit/collections/chamber-of-art-and-curiosities/selected-masterpieces/
Chamber of Art and Curiosities
20 Schloßstraße
Innsbruck
Austria
47.255646, 11.433823
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