Capuchin Crypt (Kaisergruft/ Kapuzinergruft)

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Habsburg Emperors and their families have been buried in this, the Imperial Crypt, since 1633. Underneath the Capuchins Church, by the Hofburg, the Habsburg winter residence, are the remains of 12 Emperors and 18 Empresses. The 166 other bodies or remains belong to Habsburg spouses or Archdukes or Archduchesses.

Franz Joseph’s tomb, which lies next to his wife, Elisabeth’s, is one of the most visited and revered, it has an almost constant supply of fresh flowers. It’s a rather austere affair in marble and bronze, but Elizabeth’s is quite ornate. Empress Anna of Tyrol was the first one interred here, and her tomb is also quite ornate. The styles vary greatly with the times from plain bronze boxes to complex gilded rococo or baroque affairs. Franz Joseph is the only one whose tomb is of stone, all the other sarcophagi are of tin, bronze or copper decorated with silver and gold.

In the 60’s the sarcophagi were rearranged and grouped into a more logical order and some were walled up inside new built pillars which are there to protect the rest of the remains – the air conditioning was added at the same time… The Capuchins Crypt is still in use, Archduke Karl Ludwig was buried here in 2008.

Despite the grizzly overtone this is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Vienna.

2 / 5 Review by editor World Reviewer Staff