Emperor Maximilian II acquired the land in 1569 as a hunting preserve, later adding a modest palace. Its name, ‘Schönbrunn’ or ‘beautiful spring’, came from a water source discovered in 1612. The Ottoman siege of 1683 destroyed much of the estate, clearing the way for grander designs.
Schönbrunn Palace through the ages | The heart of Habsburg royalty
Where the Habsburg court reigned, plotted, and celebrated
With 1,441 rooms and gardens larger than Monaco, Schönbrunn Palace was the Habsburgs’ summer stage for power, diplomacy, and intrigue. From Mozart’s childhood performance to Napoleon’s occupation, this UNESCO World Heritage Site condenses centuries of European history into one extraordinary estate.
Schönbrunn through the centuries | Milestones that shaped a legacy
- 1569: Emperor Maximilian II acquires the land as a hunting preserve.
- 1642: “Schönbrunn” first appears in official records.
- 1683: The Ottoman siege devastates the early pleasure palace and gardens.
- 1696: Emperor Leopold I commissions Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to design a grand new residence.
- 1740 to 1780: Under Empress Maria Theresa, architect Nikolaus Pacassi remodels the palace into a Rococo masterpiece with 1,441 rooms.
- 1770s: Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg adds the Gloriette, Neptune Fountain, Roman Ruin, and Baroque garden redesign.
- 1805 & 1809: Napoleon occupies Schönbrunn, using it as military headquarters; the Treaty of Schönbrunn is signed in 1809.
- 1814 to 1815: Schönbrunn hosts urgent refurbishments ahead of the Congress of Vienna.
- 1832: Napoleon’s son, the Duke of Reichstadt, dies at Schönbrunn.
- 1918: With the fall of the Habsburg Empire, Schönbrunn becomes state property of the new Austrian Republic.
- 1945 to 1955: The palace serves as the British headquarters during the Allied occupation of Vienna.
- 1961: U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev meet at Schönbrunn for a Cold War summit.
- 1996: Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens are designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Today: Schönbrunn welcomes millions of visitors annually as Vienna’s most visited historic monument.
Book your Schönbrunn experience
Save time with skip-the-line entry, dive deeper with expert-led tours, or pair your palace visit with Vienna’s other highlights, from the world’s oldest zoo to a hop-on hop-off city tour. From entry gates to grand halls, every ticket is designed to make your visit hassle-free and rewarding.
Key moments in Schönbrunn’s history
Skip the crowds and see more of Schönbrunn
Between June and August, lines at Schönbrunn can stretch over an hour. With the skip-the-line guided tour, you enter in about 15 minutes through a reserved group entrance and spend 2.5 hours exploring 22 Imperial Rooms and the gardens with an expert guide.
Frequently asked questions about Schönbrunn Palace’s history
The name, meaning ‘beautiful spring’, comes from a water source that Emperor Matthias is said to have discovered on the grounds in 1612. The first written use of “Schönbrunn” appeared in records in 1642.
The siege devastated the earlier pleasure palace and gardens, and Emperor Leopold I commissioned Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to design a new residence, marking the start of Schönbrunn’s transformation into a true imperial palace.
Architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach created the first major design for Schönbrunn after the 1683 siege. His ambitious scheme was intended to rival the grandeur of Versailles, with vast courtyards and monumental wings, but the full project was never realized.
Maria Theresa’s chief architect, Nikolaus Pacassi, created the Rococo state rooms and galleries, while Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg added the Gloriette, Neptune Fountain, Roman Ruin, and Obelisk in the 1770s.
The palace’s famous yellow façade, now known as ‘Schönbrunn Yellow’, only became standard in the mid-19th century. Before that, the walls had been painted in different shades, including ochre and even a grey favored during the Neoclassical period under court architect Johann Aman.
The palace served as Napoleon’s headquarters during the 1805 and 1809 occupations, and one room still known as the ‘Napoleon Room' likely served as his bedroom.
The Treaty of Schönbrunn was signed at the palace on 14 October 1809, ending the War of the Fifth Coalition between Austria and Napoleonic France. Some sources call it the Treaty of Vienna because Schönbrunn is located within the city, making both names historically accurate.
In preparation for the Congress of Vienna in 1814, Schönbrunn underwent urgent refurbishment and façade changes to suit contemporary taste and imperial protocol.
Napoleon II, the Duke of Reichstadt and son of Napoleon I, died of tuberculosis at Schönbrunn on 22 July 1832.
Schönbrunn became a state museum and later housed British administrative headquarters from 1945 to 1955 before returning to ceremonial and museum use.
The Roman Ruin was built in the 1770s by architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg as part of a grand Baroque redesign of the gardens. It was deliberately constructed as a ‘fake ruin’, symbolizing the power of ancient Rome and linking Habsburg authority to the legacy of classical civilization.
The first formal design was drawn up in 1695 by Jean Trehet, a student of Versailles’ famed landscape architect André Le Nôtre. The Schönbrunn Gardens we see today, with their statues, fountains, and tree-lined allées, were shaped during Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg’s redesign in the 1770s.
