| Schönbrunn Palace (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace
The Schönbrunn Palace with the surrounding grounds is the most visited attraction in Vienna, drawing over half a million people a year through the gates. It is easy to spend a day browsing the delights of Schönbrunn, there is just so much to do. Apart from the palace itself and the attached Kronprinzgarten, the grounds of Schlosspark contain The Gloriette (Gloria), Irrgarten (Maze Gardens), Zoo (Tiergarten), a Palm House, a Desert House, Neptunebrunnen (Neptune Fountain), an old Avery (now empty) and miles of pathways throughout.Schönbrunn - A History of Destruction and Rebuilding
Schloss Schönbrunn has been designated a World Heritage Site. The first palace was built here in 1569 by Maximilian II. It was destroyed by the Hungarians and rebuilt by Matthias in 1605. During this rebuild Matthias discovered the natural spring from which the name Schönbrunn is derived (Schönbrunn literally means 'Beautiful Spring').
Schönbrunn was again destroyed in 1683, this time by the Habsburgs themselves in anticipation of the Turkish invasion, and then rebuilt in 1696 by Loepold I. Finally, Maria Theresia set about creating the Schönbrunn that we know today, creating the sumptuous interior and the accompanying grounds and Gloriette.
Schönbrunn's Prunkräume
The Prunkräume within the palace contains the apartments of Emperor Franz-Josef I and Empress Elisabeth. Access is ticketed, when you buy a ticket you will be given an entrance time for your Prunkräume tour. You may have to wait a couple of hours before being allowed in, which gives time to explore the grounds around Schönbrunn.
Most of the rooms are highly decorated, as one might expect for a palace like this, however the access ways between rooms can be quite restricted and at busy times it can be hard to have space to pause and look at the exhibits. Most of the exhibits are protected behind Perspex panels, which throw off annoying reflections.
Space restricts describing the interior in detail, the highlights of the tour include the Spiegelsaal (Mirror Hall) where a 7 year old Motzart performed a duet with his sister in front of Empress Maria Theresia. The most spectacular room of all is the Great Gallery heavily decorated with gilded stucco embellishments and rich ceiling frescoes. Also see the Round Chinese Cabinet Room where Maria Theresia held secret meetings with her advisors. It will take a good hour to go through the palace at a fairly brusque pace.
Address:
Schloss Schönbrunn-Haupteingang
Schönbrunner Schloss-Strasse
A-1130 Wien
Austria
http://www.schoenbrunn.at
Transport:
U-Bhan Schönbrunn (U4)
Trams: 10, 58, Schönbrunn
Bus: 10A, Schönbrunn
