Court Church

Situated at the edge of Innsbruck’s lovely Old Town, the Court Church was built from 1553 to 1563 to house the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I who died in 1519. The Gothic church is one of Europe’s finest royal court churches. Emperor Maximilian's ornate black marble tomb, intended to glorify the Holy Roman Empire, is a fine example of artisan craftsmanship and is considered Innsbruck’s “most notable work of art.” The Court Church, also called “Schwarzmanderkirche“ (literally “Black Men Church”), is famous for its namesake “Black Men” – 28 over-life-sized Renaissance bronze statues of important historical figures that flank the marble tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. The larger-than-life-size figures of Maximilian’s family members and forefathers that guard the empty sarcophagus are considered masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture. Standing in a gilded cage, the marble tomb lies in the center of the church and remains empty because the Holy Roman Emperor’s remains are interred in the Castle of Wiener Neustadt near Vienna. Strongly recommended: Visit the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum next door, it contains the most important collection of cultural artefacts from Tirol.