Sissi's Habsburg Ballroom - where an empress escaped Vienna

Walk through Salone Hofer at Hotel Relais Des Alpes - the actual ballroom where Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) and Emperor Franz Joseph danced in 1895. Court painter Gottfried Hofer created the frescoes in 1896. The annual Habsburg Carnival recreates imperial winter balls every January.

What to do there

4 things to do

1. 1 Find the Medallions Where Sissi Escaped Court Life History · Free

   Locate the 1896 portraits of Empress Elisabeth and Franz Joseph in the ballroom where they danced

   In 1889, Empress Elisabeth (Sissi) arrived in Madonna di Campiglio shaken by tragedy, seeking refuge from Vienna's suffocating court. She returned in 1894 with Emperor Franz Joseph for 10 days of being NORMAL - hiking, attending mass, dancing. Court painter Gottfried Hofer immortalized them in 1896-1897 frescoes at Hotel Relais Des Alpes (Via Monte Spinale 1). Enter Salone Hofer and scan the walls for TWO MEDALLIONS showing royal profiles - Sissi with her famous long hair, Franz Joseph with distinctive side whiskers. These survived a 2007 fire that destroyed much of the hotel.

   Backup: If salon is closed for event, ask hotel staff: 'Can I see photos of the Gottfried Hofer medallions of Sissi and Franz Joseph?' Most staff have photos ready - this is their crown jewel.

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2. 2 Decode the Symbols Hofer Hid in Plain Sight History · Free

   Hunt for the brown bear, Virgin Mary, and Alpine motifs that tell Campiglio's story

   Gottfried Hofer (1858-1932, from Bolzano) didn't just paint royalty in his 1896-1897 frescoes - he encoded Madonna di Campiglio's identity into Salone Hofer's walls. Walk the ballroom perimeter slowly looking for: (1) A BROWN BEAR - the town symbol, (2) The Virgin Mary appearing to shepherd boys on Monte Spinale - the legend behind 'Madonna', (3) Art Nouveau florals and mythological figures in the cutting-edge 1890s Vienna style. Count the symbolic elements while noting the flowing lines that were revolutionary when Sissi and Franz Joseph waltzed here.

   Backup: If details are hard to see (lighting varies), ask hotel: 'Do you have a guide to Gottfried Hofer's symbolism in Salone Hofer?' Some hotels provide interpretive cards.

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3. 3 Walk the Exact Floor Where an Empress Danced in 1894 Adventure · Free

   Stand where Sissi and Franz Joseph waltzed during their 10-day escape

   September 1894: Cannon fire rang out as Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph arrived for 10 days of being NORMAL in this ballroom under Hofer's fresh frescoes. Stand in the center of Salone Hofer's original 1890s parquet floor and imagine a live orchestra in the corner, Sissi in a ballgown, Franz Joseph in military dress, waltzing under these very frescoes. Two years later in 1898, Sissi would be assassinated in Geneva. This ballroom holds her last carefree moments, and you're standing exactly where she danced.

   Backup: If ballroom is set up for event and you can't access center, stand in doorway and observe. The spatial sense - the intimacy of this room vs. Vienna's grand palaces - tells the story of why Sissi loved Campiglio.

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4. 4 Attend the Emperor's Grand Ball in Period Costume Adventure · Price: high · Optional

   Experience the Habsburg Carnival's climactic ballroom event - exactly as Sissi did

   The Habsburg Carnival recreates 1890s imperial winter with FULL COMMITMENT: horse-drawn carriages, torchlit ski descents, and the climactic Emperor's Grand Ball February 20, 2026 at 7:30 PM in Salone Hofer. Live orchestra plays Viennese waltzes under the SAME Hofer frescoes that watched Sissi dance in 1894. Book tickets months ahead via Madonna di Campiglio tourism office (sells out), rent period costume in town, arrive for 'court arrival on foot' at 7:00 PM. Dance at least ONE waltz in the actual ballroom where an empress found refuge.

   Backup: If February dates don't work, attend ANY Habsburg Carnival event that week (Feb 15-20). The street parades and Habsburg dinners channel the same 1890s energy, just less formal than the Grand Ball.

   Log Memory