The Burgtheater (the former imperial court theatre), is one of the most important theatres in Europe, and the second-oldest theatre still in existence after the Comédie Francaise. The construction of the present Burgtheater building began in 1874 and it was designed by Gottfried Semper and Karl von Hasenauer. It was completed fourteen years later in 1888. During the Second World War it was largely destroyed by bombing, but was restored and reopened in 1955.