Chamber of Art and Curiosities – Innsbruck, Austria - Atlas Obscura

Chamber of Art and Curiosities

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

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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.

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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