Goldenes Dachl, A Golden Marvel of Gothic Architecture

Golden Roof Herzog Friedrich Straße 15, 6020 Innsbruck

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Introduction

Goldenes Dachl is an old building located at the end of Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse in the old town of Innsbruck, Austria. Built in 1500, it is an example of late Gothic architecture. Originally known as the New Residence, it was constructed to commemorate the engagement of Maximilian I. It was converted by Nikolaus during 1494-1496 from a previously dilapidated arcade into a loggia with Gothic vaulting, providing a vantage point to observe the square below and for watching games and theatrical performances. The loggia of the Goldenes Dachl spans a width of 16 meters, with a roof height of only 3.7 meters, but its roof is covered with 3,450 gilded copper tiles, hence its name. The eaves are adorned with ornate animal figures, and the columns are decorated with intricate reliefs, including statues of Emperor Maximilian I and his wife. The façade features the coats of arms of Austria and Hungary, the double-headed eagle and the king's eagle, as well as the coats of arms of Burgundy and Milan, Styria and Tyrol. The wall paintings on the Goldenes Dachl depict two guards carrying the flags of the Holy Roman Empire and Tyrol, and the original is preserved in the Tyrolean State Museum.