The Hofburg is the former principal imperial palace of the Habsburg dynasty. Located in the centre of Vienna, it was built in the 13th century and expanded several times afterwards. It also served as the imperial winter residence, as Schonbrunn Palace was the summer residence. Since 1946 it is the official residence and workplace of the president of Austria.

Vienna is the capital, largest city, and one of nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's most populous city, with about two million inhabitants (2.9 million within the metropolitan area, nearly one third of the country's population), and its cultural, economic, and political center.