Winterreitschule, Imperial riding hall in Innere Stadt, Austria.
The Winterreitschule is a one-storey riding hall of the Hofburg, built 1729–1735 to designs by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach. Its facade is divided by paired pilasters and flanked by columns. The hall itself is 58 m long, 18 m wide and 17 m high, painted in off-white, with a gallery carried by 46 Corinthian columns of Eggenburger stone; the winding stairs are of Kaisersteinbruch stone. A coffered ceiling hangs from a complex structure, and a gateway arch links the building to the Stallburg opposite.
Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach built the hall between 1729 and 1735 on ideas of his father Johann Bernhard, on the site of the old Paradeisgartl next to the Redoutensäle. Emperor Charles VI, Empress Elisabeth Christine and Maria Theresa attended its completion on 14 September 1735. In 1743 a ladies' carousel took place here, and from 1812 to 1847 the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde held its monumental concerts in the hall.
The hall serves as a performance venue where riders demonstrate classical equestrian techniques handed down through generations. Visitors observe traditions that have been maintained across centuries.
Scheduled performances take place throughout the year, with guided tours available in multiple languages from Monday through Saturday. It helps to check the performance calendar in advance, as events vary by season.
The 46 columns supporting the gallery are carved from Eggenburger stone, while the winding staircases leading into the hall are made of hard Kaisersteinbruch stone. The coffered ceiling hangs on a complex suspension construction and is regarded as a craft and artistic feat. A Latin inscription above the double door, dated 1735, names the hall's purpose: training noble youth and horses for riding and war.
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