Schönbrun Palace is located within the city of Vienna on the territory of the palace and park complex of the same name. The Habsburgs, and especially Maria Theresa, loved Schönbrun very much, lived here with pleasure in the summer.
As part of a tour of the palace, you will learn about the many historical events that the walls remember. For example, at the end of 1762, little Mozart gave one of his first concerts in the Hall of Mirrors. In the Blue China Drawing Room, Emperor Charles I resigned as head of state at the end of the First World War. Khrushchev and Kennedy also met in Schönbrunn, after which the Cold War began to decline. So, the palace is not only beautiful, but also interesting from a historical point of view.
Schönbrun is a huge park, on the territory of which are located:
- Summer Palace of the Habsburg dynasty
- The oldest European zoo
- Glorietta - a colonnade in the style of classicism, built to complete the composition of Schönbrun and as a summer venue for receptions and breakfast. Now there is a cafe in Glorietta. In addition, it is also an excellent observation deck.
- Lovely park
- Carriage Museum
- Greenhouse
- Labyrinth
- Fountain of Neptune
What to see in Schönbrunn Palace
I recommend traveling to Schönbrun by metro on your own (I’ll tell you how to get there below), taking an audio guide in Russian and walking around the royal halls and chambers for as long as your heart desires. And she wishes, most likely, all your free time, because the palace really amazes with its interior decoration, all the rooms are very different, some even shocking with their luxury. From the outside, Schönbrun looks rather modest, but inside ...
Unfortunately, photography inside the palace is not allowed, so I give a link to the photo gallery on the official website.
Popular other rooms included in the tour include the breakfast room, rooms with a balcony, the Bonaparte Rooms, the Chinese-style Oval Office, the Vieux-Laque Rooms, the Porcelain and Diamond Rooms, Franz Karl's Workroom and Salon, and many other rooms in which emperors spent a significant part of their lives.
The palace began to be built on the lands that were bought from the monks. Emperor Maximilian II - the emperor of the Roman Empire, decided to build the estate as a summer residence in the 16th century and equipped it with a garden, a hunting lodge and even a menagerie. True, all this was destroyed almost 100 years later during the siege of Vienna by the Turks, but again restored at the behest of Leopold the First. A new palace was built on the site of the residence.
The name Schönbrunn, or "beautiful source", the palace received during the Habsburg dynasty, when one of the representatives of the royal family came across a source during a hunt. Later, the "beautiful source" simply began to play the role of the main artery, which was responsible for supplying water to the summer palace. The audio guide will tell you that Empress Eleonora began to build it, who hired the famous architect Fischer von Erlach for this. He made every effort to erect a majestic structure, which, outwardly, almost nothing outstanding, except for its size, does not attract attention to itself, but inside the architects have surpassed themselves.
The Harsburg dynasty is known as one of the strongest dynasties in Austria since the 13th century. The masculine gender of the family ended with Emperor Maximilian, although he had a son, Philip, who received the surname of Burgundy, on the maternal side, and continued his family under this surname.
During the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, the palace had 1441 rooms, which could easily accommodate more than one and a half thousand people. Such wealth is even hard to imagine now. Numerous official events, ceremonies and meetings were held in the palace. Of course, not all rooms are open for visiting, but, nevertheless, I recommend laying at least 2.5 hours to visit the palace. In less time, you are unlikely to be able to listen to the story of the audio guide in most of the rooms you like.
Many of the rooms available for visiting, and indeed the history of the palace, are inextricably linked with the personalities of Maria Theresa and Franz Joseph - the brightest representatives of the Habsburg dynasty, who played a huge role in the history of Europe in the 18th century.
Maria Theresa went down in history as the only female monarch who bore the title of "king". She ascended the throne after the death of her father and successfully ruled the Empire for 40 years, during which she carried out successful wars, reforms in the state, and even earned the unspoken nickname "mother-in-law of Europe." Maria Theresa gave birth to 16 children, 10 of whom did not die at an early age. The "king" gave children in marriage and married only taking into account geopolitical goals, therefore, she received such a nickname.
The husband of Marie Theresa, Emperor Franz Stefan, handed over the reign to his empress and calmly dealt with the financial side of the issue of the House of Habsburg and science. And what if a woman wants, then why not do what she loves?
Schönbrunn became the main secular center of the Habsburg Empire. The first imperial theater was opened here and the very first zoo in Europe, which can be visited to this day.
The Empress of Austria, Elisabeth of Bavaria, had her middle name in a diminutive pet form - Sissi. She was revered as a beautiful woman, and she herself devoted an inordinate amount of time to her appearance. The Empress adhered to proper nutrition and watched her figure, did not focus on her makeup, but on natural beauty. In particular, a lot of time was devoted to caring for chic long hair, and her personal hairdresser received an income that was equal to the rewards of a professor at the university. One day in 3 weeks, Sissi devoted her brown hair, and all her perfumed shampoos always included cognac and raw eggs, which many fashionistas still copy today, using this mixture on their hair.
Tickets and how to get there
Please note that two types of tickets are offered for all tourists during the visit to the palace. If you have little time for excursions, it is better to choose a ticket to view twenty rooms. But if you came to Vienna specifically to see Schönbrunn thoroughly, then immediately buy a ticket for a tour of the forty rooms of the palace, since you need to spend at least half a day here. This route is called "Grand Tour".
The most delicious in the palace is located along this route, for example, the famous rest of the Empress Maria Theresa with numerous secrets and secret rooms. Do not be surprised when you are given an audio guide, which is included with each ticket for convenience. There is also a Russian-language version, since hundreds of thousands of tourists from the CIS countries visit the capital of Austria every year.
Based on our own experience, we advise you to buy tickets for excursions to the palace on the official website http://www.schoenbrunn.at/ in order not to languish in long queues at the box office during your trip, which is especially convenient, because the ticket was bought in advance, and even and at a discount.
Contacts
Contact information: Schonbrunner, Schlossstrasse 13
How to get to Schönbrunn Palace: You can get to the palace using line No. U4 of the Vienna metro, reaching the Schonbrunn station, or by land transport: tram (numbers 10, 58, 60) and bus (15A, 51A, 56B, 58B, 156B ).
I liked this palace and the whole complex as a whole, perhaps most of all in Vienna. I wish you a pleasant pastime in the capital of Austria - in the chic Schönbrunn Palace!
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Among the sights of Austria, it is worth noting Schönbrunn Palace, which, along with its gardens, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. According to legend, Emperor Matthias saw “beautiful springs” (Schöne Brunnen) while hunting in 1612, which gave the palace its name. In 1696, the construction of Schönbrunn Castle began (architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach). Schönbrunn was then presented to Empress Maria Theresa by her father, and she remade the palace, bringing it to its present form. To date, the castle has 1441 rooms of various sizes. Visitors can only look at 40 Schönbrunn rooms, here are some of them:
Grand gallery
This is a hall where balls and receptions were held, it is decorated in the Rococo style. Here in 1961 Khrushchev met with Kennedy.
Vieux Loek room
Memorial room created by Maria Theresa after the death of her husband. Here you can see a portrait of the Empress in a black widow's dress and a portrait of her husband, painted after his death.
Napoleon's room
It is so named because Napoleon stayed there in 1805 and 1809. In this room, Schönbrunn lived until his death, the son of Napoleon. The duke's favorite bird, the lark, is still in the cage.
Among the attractions of Schönbrunn Gardens, it is worth noting the following:
Fountain of Neptune
The fountain was completed in 1780. In the center of the sculptural marble group there is a large statue of the god Neptune and the nymph Thetis.
Gloriette
The Gloriette is a columnar building created in the style of early classicism, consisting of a central section in the form of a triumphal arch with an imperial eagle, from which two wings with high semicircular arches depart. It is known that elements from the unfinished Neugebøde Palace were dismantled and transported to Schönbrunn for the reconstruction of the park.
Roman Ruins
The unique ensemble of man-made ruins "The Fall of Carthage", which was later renamed "Roman ruins", deserves special attention. It includes a rectangular pool, framed by a massive semicircular arch with side walls, and numerous statues of Roman gods.
vienna zoo
The menagerie was built by the husband of Maria Theresa, Franz I. At the beginning of the 19th century, the collection of the menagerie was significantly replenished with such animals as camels, elephants, giraffes, kangaroos.
If the beauties of architecture bring you pleasure, look also at the Hofburg Palace. This is a whole complex, a collection of various architectural ensembles, an invaluable treasury of the nation. Having been there once, you will get an unforgettable experience and want to come back here more than once.
Information for visitors
Address: Vienna, Schonbrunner Schlossstrasse, 47.
How to get there:
- underground (U4), station Schonbrunn;
- trams 10 and 58, station Schonbrunn;
- bus 10A, Schönbrunn station.
Working hours:
- April-June: daily from 8:30 to 17:00;
- July-August: daily from 8:30 to 18:00;
- September-October: daily from 8:30 to 17:00;
- November-March: daily from 8:30 to 16:30.
Prices:
- adult ticket: 13-17€ with audio guide, 20€ with guide;
- child ticket (from 6 to 18 years old): €10 with audio guide, €12 with guide;
- students, disabled: 12-15€ with audio guide, 18€ with guide;
- school groups (up to 25 people): 6-10€ with audio guide.
Updated 01/07/2019
In this article I will tell you about how I visited Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, and twice in one month. Especially for you, I have collected in one place all the practical, and most importantly, up-to-date information necessary for visiting the sights. He also described in detail all the interesting things that are on the territory of Schönbrunn: both paid and those that do not require additional budget expenses. By the way, the photos in the article are taken from two trips - on their days the weather was different, so the photos will differ slightly in the amount of sun and clouds :).
Schönbrunn Palace is said to be the most visited attraction in the Austrian capital. I don’t know if this is true, but the fact that there are a lot of people there is an indisputable fact. I visited the palace complex twice in May 2017: at the beginning of the month, when I went to (there is a separate article about it, and my readers can also get a discount on the tour - all the info on the link above), and then at the end of the month, when I brought to Vienna for my mother.
Schönbrunn Palace is the main summer residence of the Habsburg imperial dynasty. This is a "house" with a thousand rooms and a UNESCO protected area. The palace complex is located in the Hietzing district of Vienna, about five kilometers from the historic city center. Many experts and most tourists call Schönbrunn the most beautiful palace in Austria and one of the best in Europe. Make up your mind by visiting one of Vienna's top attractions.
But the Habsburgs would not have been Hasburgs if they had built only one palace. On the vast territory of the complex there is a park and gardens, fountains and antique statues, a hedge maze and the oldest zoo in the world, Schönbrunn. The territory is truly huge, in one day, especially if you walk through all the museums of the palace, you definitely won’t see everything. I am sure that after studying my article, you will decide which plan for visiting Schönbrunn is optimal for you.
The history of the Schönbrunn palace complex
The first information about the buildings on the site of the complex that has come down to us dates back to the 14th century. They are talking about an estate called Katterburg, which stood on the site of the palace complex. He owned the estate of the Klosterneuburg Monastery, which was in charge of living quarters, stalls, a water mill and the surrounding area with a garden.
The Habsburgs received land in the middle of the 16th century. Emperor Matthew (Hungarians know him as King Matthias II) came here to hunt in 1612 and found "beautiful springs" (translated as SchöneBrunnen). In the same century, the castle, which grew on the site of the monastery, was named Schönbrunn. Unfortunately, that castle has not survived to this day. It was destroyed by Turkish troops during the siege of Vienna in 1683. The complex was restored by the architect Fischer von Erlach in the image of Versailles. The modern look of the castle was acquired in 1743 during the reign of Maria Theresa.
In 1747, a theater was opened in the palace, where Maria Theresa herself and her children performed. In 1752, the husband of the Archduchess Franz I created a menagerie on the estate, now it is the oldest zoo, which bears the title of the oldest in the world. To the west, the rulers opened a botanical garden with interesting tree specimens brought from the West Indies and South Africa. With the death of Maria Theresa, Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna became the usual summer residence of the Habsburgs.
Napoleon visited Schönbrunn twice and fell in love with the eastern wing of the castle. In 1830, the future emperor Franz Joseph was born here, who made the palace the main residence of the Habsburgs since 1848. Much in the interiors changed before the wedding of Franz Joseph with Elizaveta or simply Sisi, as many close associates called her. In 1945, the palace was damaged during the bombing, after its capture, the British used Schönbrunn as their headquarters.
Schönbrunn Palace today
Since December 1996, the entire castle complex and the surrounding area have been included in the UNESCO list. The park complex stretches for a kilometer from north to south and 1.2 from east to west. The palace now has 1441 rooms, about 200 rooms are rented out to wealthy people and companies, and tourists can visit only 40 rooms of the museum. I'll tell you about the most interesting ones:
- Mirror Hall. The courtiers took the oath here, little Mozart played, the sister of Maria Theresa lived. The hall is interesting with crystal mirrors and vases of the 19th century.
- Great Rose Hall. Received a name from the designer - the artist Josef Roz. The hall is interesting for its rich decoration, landscapes on the walls and all the same vases.
- Big gallery. Here the emperors received audiences, this was facilitated by architecture - 43 meters long and 10 meters high!
- Ceremonial hall. Decorated with paintings and murals based on the plots of great events: battles, weddings, receptions. In one of the paintings you can find a little Mozart.
- Franz Josef's antechamber. The emperor's leisure room. There is a billiard table here, so the place is also called the "Billiard Room".
- Round Chinese Cabinet. Place of secret meetings of Maria Theresa. There is even a small elevator, stairs to the chambers and many vases.
Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna now operates as a museum and private meeting place. For tourists, the palace premises are open every day, including holidays, from April to June and from September to November at 8:00-17:30, from July to August at 8:00-18:30, from November to March at 8:00 -17:00. You can only get to the palace with a guided tour, there are two main options:
- Imperial tour (visiting 22 rooms of the palace) - 16 euros for an adult ticket, 11.5 euros for children from 6 to 18 years old (audio guide included in the price).
- Grand tour for 40 rooms - 20 euros for adults, 13 euros for children 6-18 years old.
Children under 6 years old can enter for free accompanied by their parents.
There are other ways to get into the halls of the palaces. You will find the most complete and up-to-date information on site. There is a stand in the Schönbrunn visitor center where you can find a quick reference guide in a variety of languages, including Russian. The brochure (her photo below) lists all ticket options and prices for them.
In addition to the palace itself, Schönbrunn also has a park. And here you can easily spend a whole day studying. The Schönbrunn Palace complex occupies a vast territory and there are several interesting places on it. If time is running out, then take a ride on a sightseeing train: in an hour you will be shown all the most important and basic things. The ticket costs 7 euros for adults and 4 euros for children. True, in May I never saw him. Perhaps the train is running from June. Tell us who rode it, share your impressions!
You can get into the park for free, no one will stop you. But for visiting certain places, for example, the Labyrinth or Glorietta, you will have to pay. The park opens every day at 6:30, and closes depending on the season. Here is the park schedule for 2017 (taken from here).
Schönbrunn Park in Vienna is divinely beautiful in itself. Right behind the palace are French gardens of roses and wisteria, next to them exotic citrus and other plants are planted from the greenhouse in summer. Therefore, it is best to go to Schönbrunn in May-June, as the flowering period is in full swing.
Now I will tell you about the main paid and free attractions of Schönbrunn.
Zoo Schönbrunn
The oldest zoo in the world, Schönbrunn, opened in 1752. In 2012, it was recognized as the best in Europe; now it is home to 4.5 thousand animals and birds. I advise you to come in the summer, when cubs are born in the zoo. Be sure to see pandas, pink flamingos, sea lions and large cats. Entrance costs 18.5 euros.
Schönbrunn Zoo opening hours
- November - January - from 9:00 to 16:30.
- February - from 9:00 to 17:00.
- March, October - from 9:00 to 17:30.
- April - September - from 9:00 to 18:30.
Labyrinth in Schönbrunn Park
The whole park complex was conceived as a huge maze of hedges. But already in the 19th century, it fell into disrepair, and ordinary, albeit very beautiful, gardens were laid out here. The labyrinth was restored in 1998 on a small plot. You can wander among the boxwood thickets for 5.5 euros for adults and 3.2 euros for children. For holders of the Vienna Card and for students, the entrance will cost 4.2 euros.
Labyrinth opening hours
Schönbrunn Palm House
This is a greenhouse, but built in a very unusual style. The Palm House consists of three glazed pavilions with a total length of 130 meters and a height of 28 meters. Three pavilions correspond to the temperate, cold and tropical zones, here you can see exotic plants. Admission is free, but in summer all plants are taken outside.
Opening hours of the Palm House
- May 1 - September 30 - from 9:30 to 18:00.
- October 1 - April 30 - from 9:00 to 17:00.
Schönbrunn Gloriette
The colonnade, which seems to complete and emphasize the entire ensemble of the park. The Schönbrunn palace complex occupies a large area, and the Glorietta limits it. The central part is glazed, and the side ones are open, inside there is a cafe with a panoramic view of the entire park. Entrance costs 3.8 euros for adults and 3 euros for children.
Glorietta Terrace Opening Hours
- March 15 - June 5, September 1 - September 30 - from 9:00 to 18:00.
- July 1 - August 31 - from 9:00 to 19:00.
- October 1 - October 28 - from 9:00 to 17:00.
- October 29 - November 5 - from 9:00 to 16:00.
Schönbrunn Carriage Museum
Opened in 1922 on the basis of the imperial collection of carriages. There are 60 functioning carriages in the museum, the oldest are from the 17th century. Schönbrunn Palace is proud of the imperial carriage of Joseph II, which was used for coronations. You can admire the equipment and clothes, paintings with carriages. Entrance costs 9.5 euros.
Museum opening hours
- March 16 - November 27 - from 9:00 to 17:00.
- November 28 - March 14 - from 10:00 to 16:00.
Schönbrunn in miniature for young children and teenagers. Here you can try on the outfits of aristocrats, sit on the throne, learn about the life of the Habsburgs and the inhabitants of the palace and play the imperial daily life. The Children's Museum is located on the right side of the palace, the entrance costs 11 euros for adults and 7.5 euros for children.
Museum opening hours
- March 15 - November 5.
- February 6 - February 12 - from 10:00 to 17:00.
- Every Saturday, Sunday and holidays - from 10:00 to 17:00.
Other sights of Schönbrunn
Japanese garden
You do not need to pay to enter here, but I advise you to visit this place. Schönbrunn Palace would not be so interesting without exotics, and in the Japanese Garden there is a tea house, unusual stone ornaments, artificial waterfalls, and well-groomed plants. On one side of the garden is the Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, on the other, the Palm House.
Roman ruins
More precisely, pseudo-ruins, because Johann Hetzendorf created them with his own hands in 1778. The ensemble consists of a pool with a semicircular arch, decorated with bas-reliefs. Below are statues of Roman gods, and behind the vault is a statue of Hercules. Entrance to the ruins is also free, they work all the time the park is open.
Park fountains
Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is interesting and famous for its complex of fountains. They are everywhere, big and small. I especially advise you to look at the Neptune Fountain, created in 1776. In the center of the composition is Neptune himself, surrounded by nymphs. Not inferior in beauty to the Obelisk fountain, standing at the end of the palace alley. Below, in the grotto, there are statues of gods, and above them stands an obelisk on golden turtles.
Fountains in Schönbrunn are open from mid-April to mid-October
- Fountain of Neptune - from 10:00 to 16:00.
- Fountain Obelisk - from 10:00 to 16:00.
- Front fountain - from 8:30 to 20:30.
- Fountain in the Roman ruins - from 8:00 to 21:00.
- Fountain near the Palm House - from 8:30 to 20:30.
- Park fountains - from 8:30 to 20:30.
My impressions of visiting Schönbrunn
A visit to Schönbrunn almost always starts with a visit to the information centre. In a small building, everything a tourist needs fits: ticket offices, a gift shop, a cafe and a toilet.
Tickets to Schönbrunn can be bought in two ways: at the ticket office with a cashier (the queue for them is shown below) or at the electronic ticket office (they are located on the left side and are not included in the frame). Buy a ticket to Schönbrunn skip the line.
The building has a gift shop and cafe. In a souvenir shop, I bought a detailed map of Schönbrunn for 4.5 euros (if you don’t take a guide or an audio guide, it will be very useful, since in addition to the map it contains a lot of interesting information) and a badge (Austrian flag) - I don’t remember the price.
In the cafe you can drink coffee and have a snack. Prices are average (for Austria), coffee - 4-5 euros per glass, sandwich (with chicken, ham, cheese to choose from) - 4-5 euros. There are hot dishes, but for this you already have to sit down and wait for the waiter. Cafe tables are not only inside the building, but also on the street - looking at the palace.
Toilet in the information center is paid — 0.5 euro per visit.
Both times there were a lot of people in Schönbrunn, although on my first visit I was not lucky with the weather (+9 and intermittent rain). We did not take a tour of the palace and other attractions: we walked around the garden, in its different corners, took pictures, admired sculptures, fountains and other free attractions.
In early May, not all flower clubs of the royal garden were planted. Some flowers have just been prepared for planting. I witnessed how a young man dragged away several flowers and handed them to his companion. He argued with himself that he was from a Russian-speaking country. He came closer, listened to their conversation... And, of course, they were Russian speakers. 
Overall impression he Schönbrunn more than pleasant. It is especially breathtaking when you walk around the palace for the first time and go out onto the main road of the garden, which leads to the Neptune Fountain and the Gloriette. Beauty! True, my mother was not generous in emotions, like me. She compared Schönbrunn with Peterhof and said that the Austrian palace complex is definitely an outsider in this comparison. I don't know, I haven't been to Peterhof. Who was both there and there, share your opinion in the comments.
Useful information for visiting Schönbrunn
Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna is a large complex, and here each part of it has its own mode of operation and entry conditions. Opening hours and ticket prices for each attraction, the central museum in the palace and the park as a whole, I wrote in the text, where there is no cost - you can get there for free. Complex tickets are valid on the territory (prices are valid from April 1, 2019):
- Classic package: 40-room Grand Tour + Labyrinth + Glorietta + paid gardens behind the palace + zoo - 40 euros for adults, 23 euros for children.
- Sisi ticket: Schönbrunn + Habsburg winter residence Hofburg + Museum of Imperial Furniture in Vienna - 34 euros for adults, 21 euros for children.
- Family ticket for 2 adults and 3 children - 24.5 euros for adults, 18 euros for children. Free admission to Schönbrunn, the Children's Museum in the same place and the SchlossHof palace and park ensemble in eastern Austria.
- Children's Museum + Labyrinth - 11 euros for adults and 7.5 euros for children.
All types of tickets and current prices at imperialtickets.com/en.
Getting to Schönbrunn Palace is easy. Choose metro line U4, trams No. 10 and No. 58 or bus No. 10A. In any case, you need to get off at the Schönbrunn stop, the locals will tell you if you get confused. I hope you have? All information about the complex is available on the official website in English, German, French and Italian.
Schönbrun on the map
Set aside at least a day to visit Schönbrunn, it's worth it! If you are running out of time, then get acquainted with, Schönbrunn is included in it.
Always yours, Daniil Privolov.
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I advise everyone who comes to Vienna to visit the most beautiful palace and park ensemble in Europe, Schönbrunn or Schloß Schönbrunn.
Getting to it is very easy. On the green metro line, and the Vienna metro scheme is very simple, get to the Schönbrunn stop and follow the crowd, and the crowd always goes to the palace.
If you are determined not just to look at the beauty with one eye, but to see everything thoroughly, and there is something to see there, I recommend going early and buying tickets.
The queues at the ticket offices are not small, but you can also pay by card at the terminal, choosing the route option that interests you. There are several options, the program is in Russian, which is very convenient. If you are without children, then I advise you to definitely take a full ticket to the museum, there is an option for an incomplete ticket, when it is not possible to visit some of the most beautiful halls. The tour of the museum is interesting, you can not take pictures.
It is necessary to take tickets to the greenhouse and to the Glorietta. It is also worth visiting the stables.
But with children, you must definitely go to the children's town and the labyrinth. There is nothing for adults to do there, but children can have great fun while their parents eat ice cream. Yes, they sell ice cream.
So, I'll tell you a short story.
Schönbrunn or Schloß Schönbrunn was the main summer residence of the Austrian emperors of the Habsburg dynasty.
This is one of the largest buildings of the Austrian baroque, the architect of which was Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach.
Located in the western part of Vienna in the area in which Schönbrunn is located is called Hietzing and is located in the western part of Vienna. How to get there, I wrote earlier.
Schönbrunn is considered one of the most beautiful palace and park ensembles in Europe.
Schönbrunn is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The list includes the palace and park with its numerous fountains and statues, the glorietta and pseudo-Roman ruins, as well as the Schönbrunn Zoo, the oldest in the world.
On the site of the current palace, there was previously a building that dates back to the 14th century.
In 1569, this area passed into the possession of the Habsburgs.
According to the legend, Emperor Matthew came across “beautiful springs” (Schöne Brunnen) while hunting in 1612, which gave the palace its name.
Already under Maria Theresa, whose father Emperor Charles VI bought Schönbrunn as a gift in 1728, the palace was reconstructed, rebuilt and completed in some places. In this form it is today.
Maria Theresa Schönbrun was very fond of, admired gardens and castles, invited the best court gardeners for landscaping.
A theater was built in the northern wing of the palace. Not only the best singers performed there, but also the Empress herself. By the way, Maria Theresa was an empress.
Emperor Franz I, husband of Maria Theresa, founded a menagerie near the palace in 1952, which still exists today. Today it is the oldest zoo in the world. On the western side of the palace is a greenhouse. A very beautiful place to relax.
After the death of Maria Theresa, the palace was used only as a summer residence for emperors.
Franz Joseph was born in Schönbrunn Palace in 1830. Here he lived all his life.
This is the only emperor who was born here and lived until the end of his days.
Palace premises:
Schönbrunn Palace has 1441 rooms of various sizes.
190 rooms are leased and do not belong to the museum.
40 rooms are open for tourists.
The ticket price includes an audio guide in Russian.
Grand gallery
This room, 43 meters long and 10 meters wide, was used for audiences of emperors.
Under Maria Theresa, the hall was rebuilt and became the main building of the palace.
Since 1761, all important state celebrations and meetings have been held here.
Hall of Mirrors (Spiegelsalon)
Even under Maria Theresa, ministers took the oath in this hall.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart played in it for the Empress.
In 1747, these chambers were assigned to Princess Charlotte of Lorraine (the Emperor's sister).
Noteworthy in this room are crystal mirrors, which, by their favorable location (opposite each other), give the room additional volume, a bronze clock and Chinese blue and white vases of the 19th century. There is also a small altar with the image of the Holy Virgin Mary.
Great Hall Rosa (Rosa-Zimmer)
This hall is named after the artist Josef Roz, who designed the interior of the room.
The wall paintings depict the landscapes of Switzerland and Northern Italy.
Small gallery
Small dinner receptions, concerts and other events were organized in this room. The exit from the gallery leads to the southern entrance staircase with a view of the gloriette, Neptune Fountain (Neptun-Brunnen) and flower beds. Through an arch, this gallery is connected to the large gallery of the palace.
Roesselzimmer room
The room was conceived as a room for games (Roessel - a chess horse).
Since the 19th century, it has been used as a dining room.
ceremonial hall
The hall was originally called Batagliensaal or battle hall.
On the walls are episodes of great battles and other paintings depicting even the wedding ceremonies of emperors. The paintings were painted in the second half of the 18th century. In the famous painting "Musikfest" in its left corner you can see the little Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, who in fact was added to the picture only at the request of Empress Maria Theresa, since at this age Mozart had not yet lived in Vienna.
Other rooms:
Guards room or Gardezimmer.
Franz Josef's entrance hall, or the so-called "Billiard Room".
Room finished in walnut wood.
Study of Emperor Franz Joseph.
Franz Joseph's bedroom. This room clearly demonstrates the lifestyle of the head of state, who preferred modesty and simplicity.
The bed of the emperor, in which he died, is made of simple wood.
Office with a terrace. It was the room of Empress Elizabeth.
Work room with wooden stairs.
Toilet room.
Bedroom of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth.
Room-salon of Empress Elizabeth. This room was the private quarters of Empress Maria Theresa.
Marie Antoinette's room. This room was named after Marie Antonia, who, after her marriage to Louis XVI, became known as Antoinette.
Bathroom of Empress Elizabeth. The bathroom is made of white marble and has a shower and porcelain washbasin.
Breakfast room.
Yellow room. The armchairs in this room are also covered with yellow silk damask, the walls are also trimmed with gold decorations.
Room with a balcony. Paintings depicting the children of Maria Theresa hang on the walls, including portraits of Ferdinand Charles, Leopold II., Maximilian Franz and Karl Joseph.
Small room Rosa.
Little Rose Room.
Round Chinese Cabinet.
Oval Chinese office.
Blue Chinese salon.
Vieux Laque room
Napoleon's room
porcelain room
Million room
tapestry salon
memorial room
red saloon
East office with terrace
Emperor Franz Josef's birth room
Working room of Archduke Franz Karl
Salon of Archduke Franz Karl
Wild boar room
passage room
machine room
carousel room
Room with lanterns
Greenhouse
palace park
The palace park is incredibly beautiful. Its area is about 160 hectares.
The park is very old. It was founded in 1705-1706 by Jean Tree according to the designs of Fischer von Erlach.
In the park adjacent to the palace building, the geometric clarity of lines has been preserved for centuries.
Gloriette
To be honest, I did not understand what function this structure performed.
I know one thing, that it is very beautiful, located in a chic place where the imperial palace should be built according to the original plan of the great von Erlach. The rotunda was built in 1775 by the architect von Hohenberg in honor of the victory of Austria and Maria Theresa over Frederick II's Prussia.
View from Glorietta. 
Fountain of Neptune.
In the center of the fountain there is an artificial rock grotto, on the upper point of which is placed the ancient patron of the seas Neptune, sitting with his trident on a carriage-shell. On the right hand of Neptune, the nymph Tethys bowed, who prayed for his help in sailing to Troy for her son Achilles. On the left hand is placed a nymph, in whose hands is a cornucopia as a symbol of innumerable sea riches, and next to it is a sculptural group of four newts-tamers of sea horses harnessed to Neptune's chariot.
On the street you can see different golden people. 
Palace from the street. 
Schönbrunn Palace served as the summer residence of Queen Elizabeth. The palace complex was built in the Baroque style. Its main attractions are a beautiful park with a series of magnificent fountains, sculptures and ruins of ancient Rome. In addition, Schönbrunn attracts visitors with the Gloritta Pavilion and the oldest zoo in the world.
In 1918, a republic was proclaimed on the territory of Austria, and Schönbrunn deservedly became the main attraction of the capital of the new state.
The palace complex is surrounded by a fanciful lattice, on the sides of the gate at the entrance there are monumental obelisks. In the middle between the gate and the palace is the large Ehrenhof courtyard. Its total area is 24 thousand sq.m. Erenhof is surrounded by wonderful fountains. If you look to the left, you can see sculptures representing the Danube, Inn and Enns, and on the right are sculptures representing Galicia and Transylvania in allegorical form.
Historical background of creation
For the first time, buildings on this site are mentioned in manuscripts of the 15th century. On the territory of the current palace complex there was an estate called Kattenburg, it was part of the possessions of the Klosterneuburg monastery.
Kaiser Matthias came here to hunt and, according to legend, during one of the hunting events in 1612, he found the "Beautiful Spring", after which the future palace was named. Water from the spring was supplied to the imperial court for a long time.
Kaiser Ferdinand II and his wife Eleonora Gonzaga were also lovers of hunting. They chose this place for their country holiday. After the death of her crowned husband in 1637, Eleanor began to live in the castle and gave him the name Schönbrunn.
In 1683, the Turks attacked the expanded palace complex and the menagerie that had just appeared. At this time, the Ottoman army was besieging Vienna. The fires that broke out in the palace territory destroyed most of the estate.
Kaiser Leopold I took up the reconstruction of the palace. In 1696, the architect Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach launched construction work. The project of the Palace of Versailles was taken as a basis. The main work was completed in 1713, but there were still unfinished objects.
Maria Theresa - the symbol of Schönbrunn
During the years when Maria Theresa ruled the country, the palace complex really flourished. Court intrigues were woven here, balls were given and ambassadors from other countries of the world were received. Schönbrunn became the official residence of the rulers of Austria-Hungary. In 1742-1743. construction of the palace complex continued. The current appearance of the palace has not changed much since then.
Maria Theresa was a great lover of art and gave the task to build a theater in the northern part of Schönbrunn. Its opening took place in 1747. In 1752, by order of Kaiser Franz I, a zoo was founded, which today is the oldest in the world.
The Schönbrunn Palace complex contains 1441 rooms of various sizes. Of these, 190 are leased to private structures. Tourists can see only 41 rooms.
The park near the palace complex is distinguished by its special beauty and grace. Its area is 160 hectares, it was founded in 1705-1706. Jean Treat, taking into account the design decisions of the architect Johan Bernard Fischer von Erlach.
The park is designed in such a way that from the side of the palace you can see geometrically adjusted straight lines. At the intersections of the alleys of the park there are fountains that end in park pavilions or palace premises.
Other palace attractions
Glorietta, located in the park, can rightly be called the pearl of the palace complex. It was made in the style of the early classics in 1775. The architect von Hohenberg worked on her project. The Rotunda was built in honor of the victory of the Austrian Empire and Maria Theresa over Frederick II's Prussia. During the Second World War, Glorietta was partially destroyed, but by 1948 it was restored and it acquired its former appearance.
- fountain of neptune
- artificially created ruins of ancient Rome, which represent the destruction of Carthage
- building with a wonderful spring
- an obelisk placed on large figures of turtles, where you can learn about the history of the ancient Habsburg family.
