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Home  >  Austria • Vienna  >  Imperial Summer Residence of Schloss Schonbrunn

Imperial Summer Residence of Schloss Schonbrunn

Alex Posted onJune 28, 2016January 21, 2018 Austria, Empress Elisabeth, Europe, Imperial Tour, Schloss Schonbrunn, Vienna, Vienna Travel Blog Leave a Comment

Not far from the city centre is Vienna’s most famous attraction – Schloss Schonbrunn. The grand showpiece of Habsburg legacy is often known as the Austrian version of Versailles with a similar awe-inspiring palace and the massive garden. Though interestingly, Schonbrunn which means ‘beautiful spring’, started out as a royal hunting ground. Before it was decided that a palace will be built and the magnitude was ‘go big or go home’. Hence, the grand palace has got 1,441 rooms, a mixture of large garden spaces and even its own zoo!

Prior to the visit, I have gotten the tickets online and that saves me from joining the snaking queue in the early morning. Therefore, do remember to bring along the printed tickets and take note of your selected entry time – be punctual! We went to check out the gardens while waiting for our allocated entry time.

The parterre behind the palace is nicely done up with very well-maintained grass lawn, swirling patterns and beautiful flowers. It looks to be a great place to laze around on one of the benches and chillax.

Schloss Schonbrunn grand parterre

Schloss Schonbrunn great parterre

Statues around the parterre

Around Schloss Schonbrunn garden

Some highlights of Schonbrunner gardens are the Neptune’s Fountain and the Gloriette atop of Schonbrunn hill.

Schonbrunn Neptune Fountain

It takes a little more walking from the fountain to the Gloriette which was built as a war memorial and the centre portion is now being used as a café.

Gloriette at Schonbrunn

Gloriette on Schonbrunn Hill

The side of Gloriette

Gloriette statues

The Gloriette offers some great surrounding view of Schloss Schonbrunn.

Path leading to Gloriette

Bird and warning sign
I obey to no human rule!!

View from the Gloriette

Imperial Tour of Schloss Schonbrunn

As mentioned that there are 1,441 rooms in total but only 40 rooms are open to the public. And that kinda makes sense because I seriously do not think any tourists will want to visit all of them anyway. So depending on the ticket, you can either go all 40 rooms with Grand Tour or choose to see 22 rooms with Imperial Tour.

The balcony room of Schloss Schonbrunn
The balcony room
The Billiard Room of Schloss Schonbrunn
The Billiard Room
The Gobelin room of Schloss Schonbrunn
The Gobelin room
The great Gallery of Schloss Schonbrunn
The great Gallery
The mirrors room of Schloss Schonbrunn
The mirrors room
The rosa room of Schloss Schonbrunn
The rosa room
The vieux-Laque room of Schloss Schonbrunn
The vieux-Laque room
The yellow salon of Schloss Schonbrunn
The yellow salon

Nice looking chandelier

Nice looking clock

Seeing the incredibly ornate rooms and the magnificent interiors reminded me of Versailles, very comparable if you ask me. But for me, it is the sad love story of Empress Elisabeth and Emperor Franz Joseph which left a deeper impression.

Empress Elisabeth of Austria

The beautiful Empress Elisabeth or affectionately known as Sisi by the Austrians, married Emperor Franz Joseph when she was only 16 years old. She struggled with the strict royal court life and was constantly at odds with her mother-in-law. Sisi has no said around the palace and was not even allowed to look after her young children. Things got worse when her youngest daughter died of fever and her only son in a bizarre suicide. Deeply affected by the tragedies, Sisi withdrew from her all duties and travelled around but was assassinated and passed away in Geneva…

What are your thoughts about Schloss Schonbrunn? Leave a comment and share it with me.

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Alex

A Singapore Travel Blog about one guy, his camera and an irresistible impulse to travel. Join his adventures to find travel reviews and tips @ WanderLex.com. Read more

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