Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria

Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial summer residence located in Vienna. The 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historical monuments in the country. The history of the palace and its vast gardens spans over 300 years, reflecting the changing tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs.

The site of the Palace and Gardens of Schönbrunn is outstanding as one of the most impressive and well preserved Baroque ensembles of its kind in Europe. Additionally, it is a potent material symbol of the power and influence of the House of Habsburg over a long period of European history, from the end of the 17th to the early 20th century.

It is impossible to separate the gardens from the palace, of which they form an organic extension: this is an excellent example of the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk, a masterly fusion of many art forms.

A small hunting lodge and later summer residence of the Habsburg family was rebuilt after total destruction during the last Turkish attack in 1683. During construction work the project was expanded into an Imperial summer residence of the court. As such it represents the ascent and the splendour of the Habsburg Empire. At the peak of Habsburg power at the beginning of the 18th century, when imperial Vienna following the Turkish reflected its regained significance in spectacular examples of newly developing Baroque art, Schönbrunn was one of the most important building projects of the capital and residency.

The ample Baroque gardens with their buildings (Gloriette, Roman ruins etc.) and statuary testify to the palace's imperial dimensions and functions. The original intention, when they were laid out in the 18th century, was to combine the glorification of the House of Habsburg with a homage to nature. The Orangery on the east side of the main palace building is, at 186 m, the longest in the world. The Great Palm House is an impressive iron-framed structure, 114 m long and divided into three Sections, erected in 1880 using technology developed in England.

References:

UNESCO

User Reviews

Timișoara (22 months ago)
Great place to see. Buy the ticket online so you don't have to stay in line. Go from early morning, there is a lot to see and enjoy. They also serve food. The gardens are big and there is a lot to visit. The castle tour takes 2 hours and it is also auto supported in a lot of languages.

Sebastian (2 years ago)
Gorgeous imperial palace, full of history and art. The architecture is impressive, and it will leave you speechless. The beautiful and huge garden is home to the zoo, also worth a visit.

Rareş-Andrei Mateizer (2 years ago)
The garden is extremely well cared for, with trees being cut perfectly in line and it is also very big. The palace itself is also well preserved and restored. I particularly liked the view from the top of the hill so be sure to check it out

Endre Barcs (2 years ago)
I love the place and the huge garden. A very nice place to walk and discover. You can find you place if you are alone, with someone you love or with big groups. This is a really must discover place.

Shanda Felix-Brown (2 years ago)
During our trip to Vienna, this was the most beautiful sight we visited. We did not even managed to see everything at the sight and we were already so impressed. If you are visiting Vienna, this should definitely be one of the top things to do!

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