Schonbrunn Castle

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At the end of the 17^th century, Emperor Leopold I commissioned the Baroque architect, Bernhard Fischer  von Erlach to build a palace—the Schonbrunn Palace. Emperor Leopold I passed away in 1705 before the palace was completely finished. In the mid-18^th century, Maria Theresia commissioned court architect Nicolaus Pacassi with the completion of the palace. The reign of the Habsburg Monarchy ended in 1918 and the palace became state owned.

When the palace was used as a residency, about 1,000 people lived in the 1,441 rooms and halls. 40 of the rooms are now open to visitors. The interior is Rococo style. Some of the beautiful rooms of the palace include: Millionenzimmer, the Chinese Cabinet, the Blue Chinese Room, the Vieux-Lacque Room, Spiegelsaal, the Rosa Room, and the Walnut Room.
 

The Schonbrunn Palace is about 4 miles away from the center of Vienna and can be reached underground. The whole area, including the park it sits on, occupies 435 acres.
 

The main gateway of the palace has 2 obelisks which lead to the large courtyard. The courtyard has 2 large fountains, including one depicting the Danube, Inn, and Ems River. The other fountain represents Transsylvania, Galicia, and Lodomeria. Also included in this area is a large garden and the Schonbrunn Court Theatre, which was built in 1767 in Rococo style.  
 

The park behind the palace building is called the Schlosspark. In the park, there are flowerbeds, statues, and the large Neptune Fountain, which is the park’s most monumental fountain. Formal gardens in the park are arranged in a star shape around 2 fountains and are called the Najadenbrunnen.
 

The Schonbrunn Hill holds the Gloriette arcade structure. There are some forest-like areas around the Gloriette. Other attractions of the park include: the Palmenhaus (holds exotic plants in different climate zones), Tiergarten (zoo), mock Roman Ruins, a Botanic Garden, a Japanese Garden, and Taubenhaus.  

Gloriette

Schonbrunn

Schonbrunn Park

Courtyard

 

References

A View on Cities. (n.d.). Schonbrunn Palace. In Vienna attractions. Retrieved from http://www.aviewoncities.com/vienna/schonbrunn.htm

Courtyard [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from A View on Cities website: http://www.aviewoncities.com/vienna/schonbrunn.htm

Gloriette [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from A View on Cities website: http://www.aviewoncities.com/vienna/schonbrunn.htm

Schonbrunn [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from A View on Cities website: http://www.aviewoncities.com/vienna/schonbrunn.htm

Schonbrunn Park [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from A View on Cities website: http://www.aviewoncities.com/vienna/schonbrunn.htm