The Great Gallery, located in the heart of the castle, was used by the imperial family to hold balls, receptions and gala dinners. In the 18th century, at the instigation of Marie-Therese of Austria, the castle was enlarged and experienced many architectural transformations in a flamboyant style rivaling the Palace of Versailles.Įmperor François-Joseph I of Austria and his wife Empress Elisabeth (called Sissi) in the 19th century launched numerous renovations in this castle which they used as a summer residence. Emperor Charles VI bought this pavilion in 1728 which he bequeathed to his daughter Marie Thérèse, known in history as the empress who would accede to the throne with her husband François 1er. According to legend, it was when Emperor Matthias discovered a fountain there that he gave this Habsburg estate the name ‘Schönbrunn’ which means ‘the beautiful fountain’.Īfter the destruction of Schönbrunn in 1683 by the Ottomans, Emperor Leopold I commissioned the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to build a hunting lodge. The origin of Schönbrunn dates back to the Middle Ages when Maximilian II bought the property in 1569. Photo credit: Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. The Great Parterre – The largest open space in the gardens.
A true feat of Baroque architecture with its 1441 rooms, this palace is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and will require at least half a day to discover its magnificent gardens and apartments. Schonbrunn Palace was the summer residence of the Habsburgs, the Austrian imperial family.
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