If there’s one cultural activity that you need to experience in Vienna, it has to be the changing of the guards at the Imperial Palace’s Inner Courtyard. Unlike those in other European countries, this one is unique because it is accompanied by a musical concert.
Known as Hoch- und Deutschemeister, this event was resumed just recently. It takes place every Saturday from 10:45 a.m. until 12 noon.
To give you a little idea of what makes this changing of the guards experience different, it first starts with the military band forming at the Kohlmarkt/Graben where they play one or two music pieces.
From there, they march across the Kohlmarkt and through the Michaelertor proceeding to the Inner Courtyard. Upon arrival at the courtyard, the band members go to their specific positions and perform classical music composed by the Strauss dynasty and other musicians to include Franz Lehar, Carl Michael Ziehrer, Robert Stolz and Philipp Fahrbach among others. This performance takes about 40 minutes and hence, makes a musical delight to visitors.
Once they’re done with the performance, the musicians will form a group again and proceed with their musical march going to the Michaelerplatz. This ends at 12 noon during which the midday bells will be rang.
Originally at the end of the 19th century, the changing of the guards was an important military event at the spacious Inner Courtyard. At that time, a group of guards would march to the courtyard accompanied by music to relieve the Imperial Guard for the next 24 hours. While the guards changed, a concert was then performed by a band in front of Emperor Franz’s monument.
