Ambras Castle

The origins of Ambras Castle date back to the 10th century, when the ancestors of the Counts of Dießen-Andechs resided there. In 1133, the original castle was destroyed by Henry the Proud, but it was rebuilt about 150 years later. Following the death of the last Andechs count, Duke Otto II of Merania, in 1248, Ambras passed to Albert III of Tyrol. After further inheritances, the complex came into the possession of the Habsburgs in 1363. Under Archduke Sigismund the Rich and under Archduke Ferdinand II, the castle was transformed into a Renaissance palace. Ferdinand II brought his collections, which he had already begun as governor in Prague, to Ambras. After 1665, the castle served various purposes, including as a troop quarter and military hospital, though the collections remained preserved. In the mid-19th century, it was again adapted for residential use under Archduke Karl Ludwig. After the abolition of the monarchy, Ambras fell to the Republic of Austria and is now part of the federal museums.

Ambras Castle is located in the Ambras district of Innsbruck, within the Innsbruck City district in Tyrol, Austria.

Today, Ambras Castle houses a museum and is accessible to visitors. It showcases the castle's historical collections and architecture.