Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna

Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) is the former summer residence of the Habsburgs in the Austrian capital, Vienna. The Baroque three-winged complex was begun in 1695 under Leopold I by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and completed from 1743 under Maria Theresa by Nikolaus von Pacassi. Notable features include the Bergl Rooms, the Great Gallery, the Vieux-Laque Room, the Palace Chapel, and the Palace Theatre. See also Hofburg palace The park, with its Neptune Fountain, Gloriette, and the eponymous Beautiful Fountain, also forms part of the ensemble of the “Austrian Versailles.” As an “exceptional example of a Gesamtkunstwerk” (total work of art), Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. History In 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased a large floodplain of the Wien river beneath a hill, situated between Meidling and Hietzing. The former owner, in 1548, had erected a mansion called Katterburg. The emperor ordered the area to be fenced and put game there such as pheasants, ducks, deer and boar, in order for it to serve as the court’s recreational hunting ground. In a small separate part of the area, “exotic” birds such as turkeys and peafowl were kept. Fishponds were also excavated. Eleonora Gonzaga, who loved hunting, spent much time there and was bequeathed the area as her widow’s residence after the death of her husband, Ferdinand II. From 1638 to 1643, she added a palace to the Katterburg mansion, while in 1642 came the first mention of the name “Schönbrunn” on an invoice. The Schönbrunn Palace in its present form was built and remodelled during the 1740–1750s during the reign of empress Maria Theresa who received the estate as a wedding gift. Franz I commissioned the redecoration of the palace exterior in the neoclassical style as it appears today. Franz Joseph, the longest-reigning Emperor of Austria, was born at Schönbrunn and spent a great deal of his life there. He died there, at the age of 86, on 21 November 1916. Following the downfall of the Habsburg monarchy in November 1918, the palace became the property of the newly founded Austrian Republic and was preserved as a museum. During World War II, the palace was bombed by American warplanes in February 1945. With the reestablishment of the Austrian republic in 1955, the palace once again became a museum. It is still sometimes used for important events such as the meeting between U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1961. UNESCO catalogued Schönbrunn Palace on the World Heritage List in 1996, together with its gardens, as a remarkable Baroque ensemble and example of synthesis of the arts (Gesamtkunstwerk). Gardens The sculpted garden space between the palace and the Neptune Fountain is called the Great Parterre. In 1695, Jean Trehet, a disciple of André Le Nôtre, planned the French garden. The complex includes many noteworthy staple luxuries of European palaces of the time, including the Tiergarten, an orangerie erected around 1755, and a palm house. The area called Meidlinger Vertiefung to the west of the palace was turned into a play area and drill ground for the children of the Habsburgs in the 19th century. At this time it was common to use parks for the military education of young princes. Whereas the miniature bastion, which was built for this purpose, does not exist anymore, the garden pavilion that was used as shelter still does. Originally known as the Ruin of Carthage, the “Roman Ruin” is a set of follies that was designed by the architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg, and erected as an entirely new architectural feature in 1778. Opening hours Schönbrunn Palace is open every day: March–June and November–March 8.30 am–5.30 pm July–August 8.30 am–6.00 pm September–October 8.30 am–5.30 pm Prices Palace Ticket: €38.00 (reduced*: €28.00) Classic Pass (Palace Ticket + four attractions in the palace park): €44.00 (reduced: €34.00) State Apartments: €28.00 (reduced: €19.00) Children’s Museum: €12.00 Classic Pass Plus (Palace Ticket + Zoo + Privy Garden + Maze & Labyrinth + Orangery Garden + Gloriette + Palm House): €81.00 (reduced: €58.00) *Reduced: child (6-18 years) Transport The following public transportation options are available to reach Schönbrunn: Metro: Schönbrunn station (line U4). The main entrance to the palace is a 5-10-minute walk away. Tram: lines 10 and 60, stop at Schloss Schönbrunn, right outside the palace complex. Bus: line 10A, stop at Schloss Schönbrunn. This route is recommended if you live in the western or southern parts of the city, rather than in the central part. See also France travel guide Spain travel guide Catalonia travel guide Pyrenees travel guideThe post Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna first appeared on All PYRENEES.