Imperial Crypt Vaults

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The Imperial Crypt Vaults are the various chambers of the Imperial Crypt in Vienna in which most members of the senior lines of the Habsburg dynasty, the hereditary Emperors of the Holy Roman Empire, have been entombed, beginning in 1632.

The Imperial Crypt Vaults are an interconnected series of ten subterranean vaulted rooms, built at various times as more space was needed.

The visible 103 metal sarcophagi and 5 heart urns range in style from puritan plain to exuberant rococo. The Imperial Crypt is one of the top tourist attractions in Vienna.

The bodies of 142 aristocrats, plus urns containing the hearts or cremated remains of four others, are deposited here (as of 2005). They include 12 Emperors and 18 Empresses. The most recent entombment was in 1989.

From other families there are 32 spouses, plus two others, who have found their resting place here. Everyone else in the Imperial Crypt was born with the Habsburgs-only title of Archduke or Archduchess.

In 1960, with the various vaults overcrowded, a major rearrangement project began which resulted in the construction of the Children's Columnbarium and the New Vault. At the same time many bodies were moved to those new areas, others were moved from the Tuscan Vault and Ferdinand’s Vault and walled up into the corner piers of Ferdinand's Vault.

Contents


Subscript numbers behind the names of most persons listed in this article are used to avoid confusion in cross-references due to the similarity or duplication of names over the many generations. A unique small index number appears with the name of every person buried in the Imperial Crypt. The number corresponds with that person's entry in the listing below of occupants of each Vault, to which it is hyperlinked. When necessary to establish continuity, a person buried elsewhere is assigned a number preceded by an x and then listed in the Selected Other Habsburgs section.

[edit] The Founders' Vault

The Gründergruft is the oldest part of the Kaisergruft, dating from the original construction of the church (completed in 1632), and lies under the Emperor Chapel at the left of the nave of the church above. The room is low, plain, and windowless, and visible through baroque gates from Leopold’s Vault. Here stand the two plain sarcophagi of the founding couple.

Looking through the gate, from left to right:

[edit] Leopold's Vault

The Leopoldsgruft was built under the nave of the church above, beginning in 1657 by Emperor Leopold I,37 following the edict of his father Emperor Ferdinand III27 that the hereditary burial place of the imperial family would be in this church. Considering that Leopold contributed his three wives and 16 of his children—plus himself—to the population of the crypt, it was inevitable that other vaults would be needed soon.

[edit] Children's Columbarium

Turning to the left of the gates to the Founders’ Vault, in the thick east foundation wall of the church are twelve longitudinal recessed niches built in the 1960s containing sarcophagi of 12 children. The coffins had previously been in either the Founders’ Vault or the main hall of this vault, but were generally in poor condition and have now been placed into identical cases. No markings or documentation identifies which child lies in which coffin, but those buried in these niches are:

Four children of Emperor Ferdinand III27:

  • 3 Archduke Maximilian Thomas (1638 - 1639) →Family Tree Infant son of Emperor Ferdinand III27 and Empress Maria Anna.22
  • 4 Archduke Philipp August (1637 - 1639) →Family Tree Two-year old son of Emperor Ferdinand III27 and Empress Maria Anna.22
  • 5 Archduchess Theresia Maria (1652 - 1653) →Family Tree Infant daughter of Emperor Ferdinand III27 and Empress Eleonora.19

Seven children of Emperor Leopold I37:

  • 7 Archduke Ferdinand Wenzel (1667 - 1668) →Family Tree Infant son of Emperor Leopold I37 and Empress Margarita Teresa.20 His intestines are buried separately in the Ducal Crypt of the Stephansdom.
  • 8 Archduke Johann Leopold (1670) →Family Tree Infant son of Emperor Leopold I37 and Empress Margarita Teresa.20
  • 11 Archduchess Anna Maria Sophia (1674) →Family Tree Infant daughter of Emperor Leopold I37 and Empress Claudia Felicitas.24 Her intestines are buried separately in the Ducal Crypt of the Stephansdom.
  • 12 Archduchess Maria Josepha (1675 - 1676) →Family Tree Infant daughter of Emperor Leopold I37 and Empress Claudia Felicitas.24 Her heart is in a gold and silver urn atop her mother's sarcophagus in the Dominican Church.
  • 13 Archduchess Christina (1679) →Family Tree Infant daughter of Emperor Leopold I37 and Empress Eleonora Magdelena.32
  • 14 Archduchess Maria Margareta (1690 - 1691) →Family Tree Infant daughter of Emperor Leopold I37 and Empress Eleonora Magdelena.32 Her intestines are buried separately in the Ducal Crypt of the Stephansdom.

Grandson of Emperor Ferdinand III27:

  • 15 Unnamed (1686) →Family Tree Son of Johann Wilhelm of Pfalz-Neuberg and Archduchess Maria Anna Josepha.17

[edit] Main Hall

In front of the Children's Columbarium:

Proceeding along the north wall, east-to-west:

  • 24 (Urn containing the heart of) Empress Claudia Felicitas (30 May 1653 - 8 April 1676) →Family Tree Second wife of Emperor Leopold I.37 Her body, by her own request, is dressed in the habit of a Dominican nun and is entombed beside her mother in the Dominican Church in Vienna. Her intestines are buried separately in the Ducal Crypt of the Stephansdom.

Proceeding along the south wall, east-to-west:

  • 26 Archduke Leopold Joseph (1682 - 1684) →Family Tree Son of Emperor Leopold I.37 His sarcophagus is normal sized although he was only two years old when he died.

[edit] Karl's Vault

The first part of the Karlsgruft was built in 1710 by Emperor Joseph I.35 In 1720 it was extended by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt on the orders of Emperor Karl VI40 and shelters 8 containers:

Proceeding along the south wall, from left to right:

An ornament of the sarcophagus of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor: a death's head with the crown of the Holy Roman Empire
An ornament of the sarcophagus of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor: a death's head with the crown of the Holy Roman Empire

His tomb is one of the most remarkable, with a death's head at each corner wearing one of the distinctive crowns of his major realms (the Empire, Bohemia, Hungary, and Austria).

The empty plaza at the west third of this vault was used as the area for reception ceremonies when new bodies were brought in after the funeral ceremonies upstairs.

Returning along the north wall, from left to right:

  • 34 (Urn containing the heart of ) Empress Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick (21 April 1673 - 10 April 1742) →Family Tree Wife (1699) of Emperor Joseph I.35 The wing of the Hofburg in which she had living space during her widowhood is named after her, but she founded the Salesian Cloister in Vienna 1712 to educate young women and spent much of her time there. She died of edema at age 69. Her body lies dressed in a nun's habit entombed in a simple stone sarcophagus below the high altar in the Salesian Cloister in Vienna.

[edit] Maria Theresa's Vault

The three vaults of the Imperial Crypt held 44 bodies plus urns containing the hearts of two other persions when Empress Maria Theresa56 started construction of the Maria Theresien Gruft in 1754. It is behind the church above, with its dome rising into the monastery courtyard and contains the tombs of 16 persons:

In the entrance archway:

  • 42 Emperor Joseph II (Schönbrunn 13 March 1741 - Vienna 20 February 1790 →Family Tree Son of Empress Maria Theresa.56 A populist who became known as "the people's emperor," he initiated many reforms (including a prohibition on embalming and elaborate burials), many of which he repudiated in disillusionment shortly before his death. In keeping with his edict, his body is unembalmed and intact within a simple copper tomb. He died shortly before his 49th birthday after an official reign of 10 years. His equestrian statue in the Josefplatz of the Hofburg palace is where Harry Lime's auto accident occurs in The Third Man. His two wives and two children are buried in this Vault.

In the small chamber immediately north of Emperor Joseph II42:

  • 41 Countess Karoline von Fuchs Mollard (January 1, 1681 - April 27, 1754) →Family Tree Long-time family retainer and governess to Empress Maria Theresia,56 her sisters23 39 and her children. The inscription of gratitude on the lid of her sarcopagus is signed by Empress Maria Theresa,56 who ordered her burial with the imperial family (although she had no direct blood or matrimonial connection to the Habsburgs) when she died at age 73.

In the center of the vault, from left to right:

  • 56 Empress Maria Theresa (13 May 1717 - 29 November 1780) →Family Tree Eldest surviving descendant of Emperor Karl VI,40→Family Tree her ascension was contested and officially the crown of the Empire went to her husband (1736) Emperor Franz I Stephen.55 Dying at age 63, her forty years' reign is thought of by the Austrians as the British think of Queen Victoria: the golden years of power, prestige and empire. A prominent statue of her enthroned and surrounded by her ministers is a landmark at the entrance to the Museumplatz. Her heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

This double tomb of Empress Maria Theresa and her husband, Francis I Stephen, sculpted by Balthasar Ferdinand Moll is of particular artistic merit and is probably the most glorious in terms of design.

In the small chamber immediately south of Emperor Joseph II42:

Along the south wall, young children of Emperor Franz I Stephen55 and Empress Maria Theresa.56 From left to right:

  • 46 Archduchess Marie Josephe Gabriele Johanna Antonie Anna (March 19, 1751 - October 15, 1767) →Family Tree Ninth daughter of Emperor Franz I55 and Empress Maria Theresa.56 Unhappy with the marriage arranged for her, she died of small pox the day before her wedding, at age 16.

At the southwest bend:

  • 47 Unnamed princess (1744) →Family Tree Daughter of Prince Charles of Lorraine and Archduchess Maria Anna39 (sister of Empress Maria Theresa56).

Along the west wall, mainly the family of Emperor Joseph II.42 From left to right:

  • 49 Empress Maria Josepha of Bavaria (March 30, 1739 - May 28, 1767) →Family Tree Second wife (1765) of Emperor Joseph II.42 She was the daughter of the only non-Habsburg Emperor since 1438, Karl VII of Bavaria and his wife, a daughter of Emperor Joseph I.35 Especially because of the unusually potent form of small pox of which she died at age 28, her body was not embalmed but immediately placed intact into her coffin. Her husband of 2 years had not developed a regard for her, and did not attend her funeral.

Beside the entrance to Franz’s Vault on the north wall:

[edit] Franz's Vault

In 1824 the four vaults of the Imperial Crypt held 78 bodies and urns containing the hearts of three other persons. In that year Emperor Franz II57 built the octagonal Franzensgruft, attaching it to the right wing of Maria Theresa’s Vault. It is in the Biedermeier style, as are the five tombs within it.

In the center:

In the corners, clockwise starting from the near left (south west) corner:

  • 59 Empress Elisabeth Wilhelmine von Württemberg-Mömpelgard (Treptow 21 April 1767 - Vienna 18 February 1790) →Family Tree First wife (1788) of Emperor Franz II.57 She died at age 22 a day after giving birth to Ludovika Elisabeth Franziska.66
  • 61 Empress Karolina Augusta of Bavaria (Mannheim 8 February 1792 - Vienna 9 February 1873) →Family Tree Fourth wife (1816) of Emperor Franz II.57 Died the day after her 81st birthday, having survived her husband by 38 years and two reigns.

Until 1940, this vault also held the body of a grandson of Emperor Franz II,57 Franz Joseph Karl, Duke of Reichstadtx811 (1811 - 1832). →Family Tree Adolf Hitler ordered that the body be returned to France where it now rests in Les Invalides in Paris near the body of his father, Napoléon Bonaparte. His heart is still buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

Through the doorway in the west wall to the left is the south part of the Tuscan Vault. In the east wall is the west entrance to the Crypt Chapel. The north wall opens into Ferdinand’s Vault.

[edit] Ferdinand's Vault

The Ferdinandsgruft was built in 1842, along with the Tuscan Vault, in conjunction with the reconstruction of the monastery above. Although the visitor sees an almost-empty room with only two sarcophagi, this vault actually contains one-fourth of the Imperial Crypt's entire population, walled-up into the corner piers.

Skip ahead to tombs: 64-72, 73-79, 80-87, 88-100

[edit] Main Hall

[edit] Within the southwest pier:

Nine tombs, mostly of youths:

Died at 8. His heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

[edit] Within the southeast pier:

  • 73 Archduchess Maria Antonia (1858 - 1883) →Family Tree Daughter of Grand Duke Ferdinand IV of Tuscany.108 Died at 25.
  • 74 Archduchess Maria Anna (1835 - 1840) →Family Tree Daughter of Archduke Franz Karl135 and Sophie of Bavaria,137 sister of Emperor Franz Joseph142 Died at 5.
  • 75 Archduchess Maria Karolina (1821 - 1844) →Family Tree Daughter of Archduke Rainerx783 and Princess Elisabeth of Savoy. Died at 23.
  • 76 Archduke Ferdinand Salvator (1888 - 1891) →Family Tree Son of Archduke Karl Salvator90 and Maria Immakulata.89 Died at 3.
  • 77 Archduke Rainer Salvator (1880 - 1889) →Family Tree Son of Archduke Karl Salvator90 and Maria Immakulata.89 Died at 9.
  • 78 Archduchess Sophie Friederike (1855 - 1857) →Family Tree Daughter of Emperor Franz Joseph142 and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi)143 Died at 2.

[edit] Within the northwest pier:

Eight tombs, containing 9 bodies:

  • 81 Archduchess Stephanie Maria Isabelle (Preßburg 1 May 1886 - Ostend 29 August 1890) →Family Tree Fifth daughter of Archduke Friedrich of Teschen (second son of Archduke Karl Ferdinand121) and Princess Isabella von Croy-Dülmen. Died at 4.
  • 84b Unnamed (1802) →Family Tree Infant son of Maria Luisa.84a Both died during his birth and are buried in the same coffin.

[edit] Within the northeast pier:

Thirteen tombs, principally members of the Tuscan line:

  • 88 Archduke Albrecht Salvator Marie Joseph Ferdinand Karl Anton Johannes Xaver Aloys Rainer Klemens Roman (Alt-Bunzlau 22 November 1871 - Bolzano 27 February 1896) →Family Tree Son of Archduke Karl Salvator90 and Maria Immakulata.89 Died at 24.
  • 91 (Urn containing the cremated remains of) Archduke Leopold Maria Alphons Blanka Karl Anton Beatrix Michael Joseph Peter Ignatz (Agram 30 January 1897 - Mansfield, Connecticut 14 March 1958) →Family Tree Second son of Archduke Leopold Salvator.132 Naturalized in the USA as Leopold Lorraine in 1953. Died at 61. Married morganatically.
  • 92 Archduchess Maria Antonia Immakulata Josepha Ferdinanda Theresia Leopoldine Franziska Karoline Isabella Januaria Luise Christine Appolonie (Vienna 18 April 1874 - Arco 14 January 1891) →Family Tree Daughter of Archduke Karl Salvator90 and Maria Immakulata.89
  • 94 Archduchess Adelgunde of Bavaria (1823 - 1914) →Family Tree Wife of Archduke Franz V of Austria-Este, Duke of Modena.101 Daughter of Ludwig I of Bavaria and sister of Hildegard of Bavaria.129
  • 97 Archduchess Henriette Maria Immakulata Adelgunde Josepha Ferdinande Theresia Leopoldine Franziska Karoline Isabella Januaria Luise Christine Eleonore (Vienna 20 February 1884 - Traunkirchen 13 August 1886) →Family Tree Daughter of Archduke Karl Salvator90 and Maria Immakulata.89
  • 99 Infanta Maria Theresia of Portugal (Kleinheubach 24 August 1855 - Vienna 12 February 1944) →Family Tree At age 18 she became the third wife (1873) of the twice-widowed Archduke Karl Ludwig138 who was 22 years older, and she survived him by 48 years. For the seven years after the death of Crown Prince Rudolf144 her husband was the heir-apparent and she undertook many of the representional duties neglected by the ever-travelling Empress Elisabeth ("Sissi")143 until her married stepson Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Estex863 became the heir-apparent. During World War I she worked as a nurse, and accompanied the last emperor, Karl Ix887 into exile on Madeira but returned to spend her old age in Vienna.
  • 100 Archduke Joseph Ferdinad Salvator Maria Franz Leopold Anton Albert Johann Baptist Karl Ludwig Rupert Maria Auxilatrix (Salzburg 24 May 1872 - Vienna 25 August 1942) →Family Tree Second son of Archduke Ferdinand IV of Tuscany.108 Like his cousin Archduke Leopold Salvator132 he had an interest in ballooning, and once flew his balloon from Linz to Dieppe in only 16 hours. His interest in things aeronautical had brought him into contact with the future head of the German air force, Herman Goering, who later used his influence to free the Archduke from the German concentration camp at Dachau in 1938 after only 80 days there. Had issue from two morganatic marriages.

[edit] The Tuscan Vault

The Toscanagruft was built in 1842, along with Ferdinand’s Vault. At that time there were 85 bodies plus the heart urns of three other persons in the five vaults of the crypt.

The Tuscan Vault once held many more than the present 14 tombs, but most were moved to the New Vault or enclosed within the piers of Ferdinand’s Vault during the major rearrangement of 1960. The 5-meter wide vault is very large, being 21 meters long, and extends along the entire western lengths of both Ferdinand's Vault and Franz’s Vault, ending only when it meets the outside wall of the west transept of Maria Theresia's Vault.

This vault takes its name from the many descendants of the younger sons of Emperor Leopold II,113 as Grand Duke of Tuscany, who are entombed here.

Note: the arrangement of tombs listed below was accurate before the 2003 renovation, but they have been rearranged since then.

In the archway from Ferdinand’s Vault, from left to right:

  • 114 Empress Maria Ludovika (24 November 1745 - 15 May 1792) →Family Tree Originally contracted to marry Empress Maria Theresia's56 second son, Archduke Karl Joseph,44 his early death diverted her instead to the third son, who later became Emperor Leopold II.113 In the course of 21 years, she bore her not-always-faithful husband 16 children, among them Emperor Franz II,57 and Archduke Karl122 the victor of Aspern. Grieving for her husband, she outlived him by only two months leaving many small children. Her heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

Behind them, from left to right:

  • 107 Queen Maria Karolina of Naples and Sicily 1752 - 1814) →Family Tree Daughter of Empress Maria Theresia.56 Wife of King Ferdinand of Naples and Sicily, to whom she bore 17 children. Almost everyone buried in the Imperial Crypt who was born after 1765 is a descendant of her or her brother Emperor Leopold II.113 Her heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.

To the right of the archway, along the north wall, from left to right:

To the left of the archway, along the west wall, from left to right:

In front of them, along the east wall:

[edit] The New Vault

The Neue Gruft was built between 1960 and 1962 under the monastery grounds as a 280 square meter enlargement to eliminate the overcrowded jumble of 140 bodies (plus cremation and heart urns of four other persons) in the other nine vaults, and to provide a climate-controlled environment to protect the metal sarcophagi from further deterioration. Its stark concrete walls evoke the solemnity of death. The New Vault is entered from Ferdinand’s Vault, and exits into the back of Franz Joseph’s Vault. It contains 26 sarcophagi:

Skip ahead to tombs: 115-119, 120-126, 127, 128-134, 135-141

[edit] West Wall

To the left of the entrance, proceeding along the west wall from south to north, the "Bishops Row":

  • Urn containing heart of Archbishop Karl Joseph of Lorraine,117 placed atop his sarcophagus.

[edit] South Wall

Along the south wall:

[edit] North Wall

Proceeding along the north wall, from west to east, the first ledge contains the immediate family of Archduke Karl122 the victor of Aspern:

Archduke Karl's122 family buried here.
Archduke Karl's122 family buried here.
  • 122 Archduke Karl "the victor of Aspern" (1771 - 1847) →Family Tree Duke of Teschen, third son of Emperor Leopold II.113 He was adopted by the childless Albert of Saxony-Teschen111 and Archduchess Maria Christina.112 A statue of him on horseback, holding the regimental colors aloft to rally his troops against Napoleon, stands in the Heldenplatz in Vienna. His heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.
  • Urn with heart and entrails of Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg.123

On its own pedestal, directly across from the tomb of Empress Maria Louise127:

  • 126 Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico (1832 - 1867) →Family Tree Second son of Archduke Franz Karl135 and brother of Emperor Franz Joseph.142 Created Emperor of Mexico by France and the Mexican Conservative rival Government, he was overthrown and executed by forces of the warring Mexican Liberals, who would go on to found the Republic.

The next ledge along the north wall, from left to right, mostly contains the family of Archduke Albrecht128 a great military commander of the following generation:

  • 128 Archduke Albrecht (1817 - 1895) →Family Tree Eldest son of Archduke Karl.122 Because of a distinguished military career, an equestrian statue of him was erected on the ramp outside of his former home, the Albertina in Vienna.
  • 132 Archduke Leopold Salvator Maria Joseph Ferdinand Franz von Assisi Karl Anton von Padua Johann Baptist Januarius Aloys Gonzaga Ranier Wenzel Gallus (Alt-Bunzlau, Bohemia 15 October 1863 - Vienna 4 September 1931) →Family Tree Eldest son of Archduke Karl Salvator.90 During a brilliant military career, he reorganized and modernized the Austrian artillery, becoming Inspector General in 1908. He flew hot air balloons and work on the development of airships. He grew rich from his inventions such as all-wheel drive and half-track trucks for the army. Married (1889) Blanca Infanta of Spain (Graz 7 Sep 1868-Viareggio 25 Oct 1949).
  • 133 Archduke Rainer Karl Leopold Blanka Anton Margarete Beatrix Peter Joseph Raphael Michael Ignaz Stephan (Zagreb 21 November 1895 - Vienna 25 May 1930) →Family Tree First son of Archduke Leopold Salvator.132 Unmarried.
  • 134 Archduchess Margarete Karoline of Saxony (24 May 1840 - 15 September 1858) →Family Tree First wife (1856) of her mother's nephew, Archduke Karl Ludwig.138 The marriage had not yet produced any children when she fell ill of typhus while on holiday in Monza and died at age 18. Her heart is buried in the Hofkapelle in Innsbruck.

[edit] East Wall

Proceeding along the east wall, from north to south, the direct ancestors of the last emperors:

  • 135 Archduke Franz Karl (1802 - 1878) →Family Tree Third son of Emperor Franz II.57 When his elder brother Emperor Ferdinand62 abdicated in 1848, he stood aside so that his son, Emperor Franz Joseph,142 could succeed to the throne instead. Great grandfather of the last reigning emperor, Emperor Karl I.x887 His heart is buried in the Herzgruft in the Augustinerkirche.
    Last Emperors
    Last Emperors
  • 137 Archduchess Sophie (1805 - 1872) →Family Tree Wife (1824) of Archduke Franz Karl.135 Friendly with Napoleon's sonx811 in her youth. She tried to arrange a marriage between her son Emperor Franz Joseph142 and the eldest daughter of her sister, but he chose the youngest daughter "Sissi"143 instead.
  • 138 Archduke Karl Ludwig (1833 - 1896) →Family Tree Third son of Archduke Franz Karl.135 Brother of Emperor Franz Joseph,142 father of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Estex863 and Otto140 and grandfather of Emperor Karl I.x887 After the death of Crown Prince Rudolf144 he was the heir-apparent.
  • 140 Archduke Otto "der Schöne" (the gorgeous) (1865 - 1906) →Family Tree Second son of Archduke Karl Ludwig.138 Father of Emperor Karl I.x887 Usually remembered for the widely-circulated story that he had been spotted in a hallway at the Hotel Sacher about to enter a lady's room, wearing only a sword.
  • 141 Archduchess Maria Josefa of Saxony (31 May 1867 - 28 May 1944) →Family Tree Wife (1886) of Archduke Otto.140 She strived to keep her children away from the influence of her notorious husband, and her ability to avoid excessive displays of grief when he died was much noted. She would probably wish her tomb was not exactly where it now is. She accompanied the last reigning emperor, Karl Ix887 into exile, and spent the remainder of her life with his family after his death.

[edit] Franz Joseph's Vault

By 1908 the seven vaults of the crypt already held 129 bodies, plus the heart urns of another 3 persons. In that year the Franz Josephs Gruft was built, along with the adjacent Chapel, as part of the celebrations of Emperor Franz Josef's142 60 years on the throne. The vault is usually entered from the north wall in the rear, through the southeast door of the New Vault.

From the foot of the tombs, left to right:

Franz Joseph's Vault, showing the pedestal of the stone tomb of Emperor Franz Josef, flanked by wife Elisabeth and son Rudolf.
Franz Joseph's Vault, showing the pedestal of the stone tomb of Emperor Franz Josef, flanked by wife Elisabeth and son Rudolf.

Turning around from the foot of the tombs, the doorway on the south wall of this vault leads into the Crypt Chapel.

[edit] The Crypt Chapel

The Gruftkapelle was built, along with Franz Joseph’s Vault, in 1908. It is usually entered from the south doorway of Franz Joseph's Vault. It contains one sarcophagus:

As one enters, to the right extending from the west wall:

To the left, in front of the east wall:

  • A statue of the Madonna, presented by Hungarian ladies in 1899 as a memorial to Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria.143

In the far-right (southeast) corner:

The doorway to the right enters the east side of Franz’s Vault; the west doorway, to the left, is an exit stairway.

[edit] Selected Other Habsburgs

Not all of the significant Habsburgs are entombed here. Those referred to in this article but resting elsewhere are:

  • his descendant successors as Kings of Spain, in the crypt of El Escorial, near Madrid.
  • his descendants, the Inner Austria line, in the Stiftsbasilika in Seckau.

After the Imperial Crypt opened in 1632:

  • his descendants, the Austrian Line, are the major group entombed in this Imperial Crypt.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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