Schönbrunn Palace
Ideal: Ideal for history, architecture, and classic Vienna atmosphere.
This 1,441-room Habsburg summer palace took its present form under Maria Theresa's 1740s renovation, and only about 40 rooms are open to visitors. Six-year-old Mozart performed for the empress in the Hall of Mirrors in 1762, and the Great Gallery hosted the Kennedy–Khrushchev summit in 1961. The Gloriette was added as a viewpoint pavilion in 1775; the Tiergarten inside the gardens has been the world's oldest operating zoo since 1752.
Quick facts
- Built
- 1638
- Architect
- Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach
- Commissioned by
- Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor
- Architectural style
- Baroque
- Area
- 186 hectares
- Elevation
- 193 m
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
How old is the zoo in the palace gardens?
Tiergarten Schönbrunn was founded in 1752 as an imperial menagerie and is the world's oldest continuously operating zoo. The octagonal imperial breakfast pavilion at its centre still stands.
What did the six-year-old Mozart do here?
In 1762 he performed for Maria Theresa in the Hall of Mirrors. The story goes that he slipped afterwards, and thanked the archduchess who helped him up — Marie Antoinette — by declaring he would marry her.
What was the Gloriette on the hill for?
Built in 1775, it is neither church nor residence: a pavilion designed purely for the view, also used as an imperial dining hall. Part of its stone was recycled from another demolished palace.
Why go?
- To experience Habsburg palace life up close
- For the broad gardens, fountains, and Gloriette views
- Because it is one of Vienna's most iconic photo stops
Travel tip
Leave extra time for the gardens — the outdoor grounds are as much a part of the visit as the palace interiors.
