| Schlosspark at Schonbrunn (picture by Peter Watts) |  |
Schlosspark at Schonbrunn
Schlosspark at Schonbrunn
This panoramic is taken a the top of the zigzag baths that ascend the Schönbrunn Hill. From here the view gives a good sense of the layout of the Schlosspark, the Great Parterre behind the palace and the Gloriette at the top of the hill.In 1569 Emperor Maximilian II gained possession of the 'Katterburg' estate which had belonged to the manor monastery of Klosterneuburg just north of Vienna. The Emperor used the partly as hunting grounds. The grounds were destroyed by Hungarian forces in 1605. It is said that in 1612 that Matthias discovered the Fair Spring (Schöner Brunnen) in the area and it is from this that Schönbrunn gets the name. Schönbrunn was again devastated during the siege of Vienna by Turks in 1683.
The golden era for the development of Schönbrunn and the Schlosspark began when Empress Maria Theresia took the throne. While she focused on renovating the palace, her husband, Emperor Franz I Stephan of Lorraine, set about redesigning the gardens. Schönbrunn's Baroque gardens were intended to be an impressive symbol of imperial power, in the same lavish style as the palace interior.
The gardens were virtually completed by 1770 but the Schönbrunn Hill which rises behind the Great Parterre was undeveloped. Plans for extensive works here were abandoned by a now widowed Maria Theresa in favour of the layout now seen, with the Neptune Fountains (Neptunbrunnen) at the base of the hill and two zigzag paths ascending to the huge Gloriette at the top.
The Schlosspark was declared a UNESCO heritage site in1996. See the official Schlosspark Website for an in depth history of the park.
There are many things to see and do in the Schlosspark. These include the Neptunbrunnen (Neptune Fountain), Columbary Aviary and Gloriette. Others like the Irrgarten (Maze Garden), Tiergarten (Zoo), Palmhaus (Palm House), Wüstenhaus (Desert House) and Kronzprinzgarten have ticketed entrance fees.
Address:
Irrgarten in Schlosspark
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
