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Description
5km/3mi to the north of Sierndorf, off the main road, lies Schloss Schönbrunn (by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, 1712-17), in a beautiful park, with an Orangery and, in an open field, the Chapel of St John Nepomuk (figure of the Saint under a canopy).

In 1559 Emperor Maximilian II acquired a small summer palace in a converted mill on this site. After the glorious defeat of the Turks in 1683 Emperor Leopold I commissioned J. B. Fischer von Erlach to design an Imperial palace on the site of the little Palace of Klatterburg which had been destroyed. For the Glorietta Hill Fischer planned a castle larger and more magnificent than the Palace of Versailles, but the project never came to fruition. The "more modest" Baroque Palace of Schönbrunn with 1,441 rooms and apartments was built between 1696 and 1730. In 1744-49 Nikolaus Pacassi converted the palace into a residence for Maria Theresa. There were further alterations between 1816 and 1819, and following severe damage in the Second World War reconstruction was completed in 1952. After the time of Maria Theresa the most brilliant period for the castle was during the Congress of Vienna, which met here in 1814/15. Other important dates associated with the palace are 1805 and 1809 when Napoleon I, whose troops had occupied Vienna, took up residence in Maria Theresa's favorite rooms. In 1918 Charles I relinquished the throne here, and in 1945 the British High Commissioner set up his headquarters in part of the building. Today the palace is used for state receptions given by the President of Austria.

Of the 1,441 rooms in the palace 39 on the first floor can be seen by visitors participating in guided tours.

The palace also boasts a fine selection of royal coaches.
Hobbies & Activities category: Automobiles, cars, motorcycles, carriages;  Castle, chateau, palace;  Historic site;  Provincial or municipal park;  Christian sites;  Architecture - Baroque or Rococo;  UNESCO World Heritage Site
Schonbrunn Palace Highlights

Mozart in Schonbrunn Festival

This annual festival runs from early June to late August and is put on by the Vienna Chamber Opera. The festival is know both for its high-quality performances and its spectacular scenic production
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Schonbrunn (Bergl Rooms)

To the left of the entrance hall at Schönbrunn lie the garden apartments which were furnished to Maria Theresa's taste. They were originally known as the "Indian Rooms" on account of their Romantic
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Schonbrunn (Blue Chinese Salon)

Hand painted Far Eastern wallpaper, blue and white Japanese vases and light blue silks form the setting in which the monarchy came to an end. It was in this room at Schönbrunn that Charles abdicated in 1918 and Austria became a Republic.

Schonbrunn (Breakfast Room)

Maria Theresa used to take her breakfast in this room at Schönbrunn. The pictures of flowers are thought to be the work of the Empress' daughters.

Schonbrunn (Ceremonial Room)

Major weddings, baptisms and investitures were held in the Ceremonial Room at Schönbrunn under the Habsburgs. The gold framed paintings - School of van Meytens - depict the marriage of Joseph II to Isabella of Bourbon-Parma in 1760.

Schonbrunn (Chinese Round Cabinet)

It was here at the Chinese Round Cabinet at Schönbrunn that Maria Theresa set up her "conspiracy headquarters" amid the East Asian lacquered screen panels under the dome with its stucco decoration
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Schonbrunn (Emperor's Spring)

The "Kaiserbrunnl" (Emperor's Spring) is the old spring which gave the palace of Schönbrunn its name. Legend has it that whoever drinks from it will become or remain handsome. Emperor Matthias (1557
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Schonbrunn (Empress Elisabeth's Salon)

On the walls of this reception room - Empress Elisabeth's salon at Schöbrunn - hang pastel portraits by Jean-Etienne Liotard of Maria Theresa's children.

Schonbrunn (Franz Joseph's Bedroom)

It was in this simple soldier's bed at Schönbrunn that the Emperor Franz Joseph died on November 21 1916 after a reign of nearly 68 years.

Schonbrunn (Great Gallery)

Glittering Imperial banquets used to be held in the Great Gallery at Schönbrunn under Gregorio Guglielmi's ceiling paintings, and it was here that dances were held during the Congress of Vienna in 1
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Schonbrunn (Hall of Mirrors)

It was in this room at Schönbrunn, the walls of which are covered with crystal mirrors in gilded Roccoco frames, that Maria Theresa's ministers used to swear their allegiance to her. Mozart performed here as a six-year-old prodigy.

Schonbrunn (Marie-Antoinette's Room)

On the left of Marie-Antoinette's Room at Schönbrunn hangs F. Amerling's celebrated portrait of Francis I with the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece. A peculiarity of this picture is that
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Schonbrunn (Million Room)

Maria Theresa's former private salon at Schönbrunn, the Million Room, is paneled with precious rosewood, ornamented with gilt carvings. Set under glass in the paneling are 260 precious Indian and
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Schonbrunn (Napoleon's Room)

Napoleon I lived in Maria Theresa's former bedroom in 1805 and 1809. It was here, too, that his son, the Duke of Reichstadt, who had grown up in Schönbrunn, died in 1832.

Schonbrunn (Nursery)

The Louis XVI bonheur du jour in this paneled nursery room at Schönbrunn belonged to Marie Antoinette, the future Queen of France. Her portrait is to be seen on the left-hand side.

Schonbrunn (Porcelain Room)

Blue and white wooden garlands in this room at Schönbrunn look deceptively like genuine porcelain. Some of the 213 blue Indian ink sketches are by Maria Theresa's children who were artistically gifted.

Schonbrunn (Rosa Room)

Joseph I's private apartments at Schönbrunn take their name from the Late Roccoco-style landscape paintings (1760-69) by the artist Josef Rosa.

Schonbrunn (Small Gallery)

It was in this 18m/60ft long gallery at Schönbrunn that the Imperial Household held its more intimate dinners. The painted ceiling (1761) is by Gregorio Guglielmi and takes as its theme the glorification of the House of Habsburg.

Schonbrunn (Tapestry Room)

The walls and furniture in Schönbrunn's Tapestry Room are covered with Brussels tapestries depicting Dutch folk scenes, including "Port and Fish Market", which is 26sq.m/280sq.ft in area.

Schonbrunn (Walnut Room)

Emperor Franz Joseph's audience chamber, the Walnut Room at Schönbrunn, takes its name from the walnut paneling dating from 1766. The candelabra carved out of wood is covered in real gold.

Schonbrunn (Yellow Room)

The white marble clock which stands on the left hand side of the yellow room at Schönbrunn was a gift from Napoleon III to Franz Joseph I. The salon takes its name from the yellow damask used for covering the chairs.

Schonbrunn Imperial Coach Collection

The Coach Museum located in the former Winter Riding School. The collections include coaches, sleighs and sedan chairs which were used to transport the imperial family.

Schonbrunn Palace Chapel

The Palace Chapel to the left of the entrance hall at Schönbrunn dates from c. 1700. The ceiling painting "Apotheosis of Mary Magdalene" is by Daniel Gran (1744), and that above the High Altar,
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Schonbrunn Palace Park

The park around the palace of Schönbrunn covers an area of about 2sq.km/500 acres. Laid out by Jean Trehet in 1805 to a design by Fischer it is one of the most important Baroque gardens in the
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Schonbrunn (Neptune's Fountain)

Neptune's Fountain, designed by Hetzendorf, forms the southern boundary of the garden area at Schönbrunn. About 1780 F. A Zauner sculpted the beautiful decoration based on themes from Greek
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Schonbrunn (Small Gloriette)

Once the Empress Maria Theresa used to take her breakfast in this little pavilion at Schönbrunn decorated with frescoes.

Schonbrunn (Sundial House)

Opposite the Palm House at Schönbrunn stands the Sundial House with a butterfly garden.

Schonbrunn (Tyrolean Garden)

Archduke Johann introduced an Alpine note into the Schönbrunn park by having these two Tyrolean timber houses built and an Alpine garden laid out here c. 1800. In 1865 the Alpine garden was moved
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Schonbrunn Classical Gloriette Arcade

Winding paths lead up to the Classical Gloriette Arcade on the top of the hill at Schönbrunn. J. F. Hetzendorf von Hohenberg built it in 1775 to crown the prospect at the end of the park. Here too,
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Schonbrunn Obelisk

The obelisk at Schönbrunn was designed by Hetzendorf von Hohenberg and dates from 1777. The turtles on which it stands were at one time gilded. The carved scenes depict the family history of the Habsburgs.

Schonbrunn Palm House

The Palm House at Schönbrunn was the largest greenhouse in Europe; it was built by Segenschmid in 1883 and fully renovated in 1990. There are three sections in which numerous exotic plants are kept
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Schonbrunn Roman Ruins

The so-called Roman ruins at Schönbrunn are a Romantic folly with the appearance of a half-buried palace with Corinthian columns dating from 1778. J. F. Hetzendorf von Hohenberg who designed it
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Schonbrunn Zoo

The origins of the Schönbrunn Zoo (access to which is via the Hetzinger Gate) go back to Francis I's menagerie which he founded in 1752, and it is thus the oldest zoo in the world. At present some 7
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Schonbrunn Palace Yard

The wrought iron gate to the former parade ground at Schönbrunn (24,000sq.m/ 25,000sq.yd), a magnificent example of Baroque layout, is flanked by two obelisks.

Mews

More than 60 historical state coaches, sledges and sedan chairs as well as harness and Court livery from the period 1690-1918 are on display in the former Winter Riding School at Schöbrunn. The
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Schonbrunn Palace Theater

The sole remaining Baroque theater in Vienna was built at Schönbrunn in 1747 by Nikolaus Pacassi, Maria Theresa's favorite architect, and the Roccoco decoration added by Hetzendorf in 1767. Here in
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Vienna Schonbrunn (Vieux Laque Room)

In the private apartment, Vieux Laque at Schönbrunn, of the elderly Empress Maria Theresa East Asian art is combined with Viennese Roccoco.
Do-It-Yourself Tours
Address
Schloss Schönbrunn-Haupteingang
Schönbrunner Schloss-Strasse
A-1130 Wien
Austria
http://www.schoenbrunn.at
Hours
April 1 to June 30
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open8:308:308:308:308:308:308:30
Closed17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
July 1 to August 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open8:308:308:308:308:308:308:30
Closed18:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:0018:00
September 1 to October 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open8:308:308:308:308:308:308:30
Closed17:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:0017:00
November 1 to March 31
MonTueWedThuFriSatSun
Open8:308:308:308:308:308:308:30
Closed16:3016:3016:3016:3016:3016:3016:30
Cost
Adult8.00 Euros
Students7.40 Euros
Child 15 & under4.30 Euros
Family33.00 Euros
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Wheelchair loan or rental
Transit
U-Bahn: Schönbrunn, Hietzing (U4); Bus: 15A; Tram: 10, 58, 60: Hietzing.
Typical Visit
1 hour
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