What it is
Ferdinand II, ruler of Tyrol, rebuilt the medieval castle from 1563 for his wife Philippine Welser and turned the Lower Castle into a purpose-built museum for his armour, art and natural curiosities. The Chamber of Art and Curiosities still holds many of the original objects, and the Upper Castle has the Habsburg portrait gallery. The Spanish Hall, with its coffered ceiling and portraits of Tyrolean rulers, is one of the most important Renaissance halls north of the Alps and is used for concerts.
The castle belongs to the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna. The park around it, with a waterfall and old trees, is free to enter.
Getting there by bus
Bus C stops at Luigenstraße, about 250 metres below the castle, and the Sightseer tourist bus and bus M stop at Schloss Ambras. From Museumstraße in the city centre the trip takes around 15 minutes.
The last stretch from the bus stop to the castle gate is uphill through the park.
