Due to its architectural, cultural, and historic significance, the Schönbrunn Palace is a major tourist attraction in Vienna. Listed in the UNESCO World Heritage, the Schönbrunn Palace Garden, a natural extension of the Baroque-styled palace is an exemplary representation of the cultural heritage and history of the Habsburg Empire in Hitezing. Witness some of the unique attractions including the Privy Garden, the Orangery Garden, the Maze as well as the Zoo while visiting the garden. Read on to know more about this lush wonder.

About Schönbrunn Palace Garden

The history of the Schönbrunn Palace goes back to the 17th century when the palace and garden were built during the reign of Maria Theresa. After a series of disastrous wars with Frederick of Prussia, the Schönbrunn Palace, and Garden were built as summer residences. However, with time, they came to be associated with the power and ambition of the Habsburg empire. Maria Teresa’s husband built one of Schönbrunn Palace Garden's main attractions- Tiergarteno (Tiergarten), which is considered to be one of the oldest of its kind in the world. In the later years, the Schonbrunn Palace Garden also became the residence of Napolean while he was expanding his territory and fighting battles. With a long and encaptivating history, the Schönbrunn Palace is not just a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site but also Austria’s most visited sight.

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Why Visit Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

Opulent History: From being used initially as a hunting ground by the Habsburgs to its magnificent transformation to a baroque-styled place under Franz I Stephan of Lorraine, the Schönbrunn Palace Garden has a rich history.
Exemplar Demonstration of Unique Architecture: The Schönbrunn Palace Garden is baroque-inspired as well as an outstanding example of Gesamtkunstwerk. The Baroque style of architecture flourished in Europe in the 17th century while Gesamtkunstwerk is a fusion of multiple art forms.
The Largest Orangery: The Schönbrunn Palace Garden is the second largest Baroque Orangery in the world. Franz I Stephan is credited with instigating many of these unique attractions in the Schönbrunn Palace Garden. The Orangery also consists of a hothouse in order to overwinter the citrus trees.
UNESCO World Heritage: The Schönbrunn Palace Garden was also named on the UNESCO list of World Heritages in 1996, making it one of the most visited tourist attractions in Hietzing, Vienna.

A Brief History of the Schönbrunn Palace Garden

The history of the Schönbrunn Palace Garden goes way back to the 14th century when the estate, known as Klosteneuburg, served as the hunting grounds for the Habsburgs. The hunting requirements led to the palace being converted into a lodge for resting. However, soon after Maria Theresa’s reign, the court architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf was called upon to draw plans for the estate. After the construction of the palace and the gardens, the Garden came to be known as a structure that demonstrated the rise and fall of the Habsburg empire. Interestingly, the Schönbrunn Palace Garden also served as a residence for Napoleon while he was expanding his territory.

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What to See at the Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

Gloriette

The Gloriette is erected at a site that is slightly elevated with respect to the surroundings, while the Garden axis points towards the Gloriette. Said to be built by Maria Theresa as a representation of the power of the Habsburgs, the Gloriette was built with stones that were otherwise useless. The Gloriette now has a cafe and an observation deck with an amazing view of the city.

Roman Ruins

Originally known as the Ruin of Carthage, the Roman Ruins were built at the foot of the Schönbrunn Hill wooded slopes in 1778. The elements of the structure have been designed in a way to fully integrate it into the surrounding. The magnificent ruin consists of a rectangular pool surrounded by lateral arch walls in a semi-circle. This structure is not only a reminder of the widespread power of the Roman empire but also its decline and a conscious effort to retain its memories.

Fountains

The Schönbrunn Palace Garden has a number of fountains spread across the green stretch, like the Naiad, Parade Court, Angel and Obelisy. While these form some of the most important focal points of the area, the Neptune Fountain is one of the most remarkable ones. The architectural structure of the fountains consists of mythological figures like Neptune the Sea God, Thesis the Goddess of Creation, Achilles, and Triton. The structure of Neptune driving across the sea symbolizes the monarchs who controlled the nation.

Orangery

One of the two largest Baroque Orangeries in the world, the Schönbrunn Orangery was designed by Emperor Franz I Stephan. The Orangery is an exquisite building with large windows that house exotic plants. During summers, the plants are shifted to the Orangery Garden, making for a breathtaking open-air botanical display. The beauty of the plant-filled Orangery made it the perfect venue for all the banquets that Joseph II liked to organize.

Palm House & Botanical Garden

The Schönbrunn Palace Palm House stands where the former Botanical Garden was built. The design for the Palm House was laid down by Franz Xaver Segenschmid. Connected by tunnel-like passages, it consists of a central pavilion and two lateral pavilions. Each Pavilion contains different climatic zones ranging from cold houses to tropical zone. Due to the varying temperatures, the Botanical Graden is able to house around 400 plants from 80 different species.

Statues

The Schönbrunn Palace Garden has 32 magnificent white marble sculptures, representing larger-than-life mythological figures. While several artists were credited for the creation of these statues, the most prominent artist accredited was Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg, the architect-in-chief. One of the most famous statues amongst the 32 stunning statues is the rendition of the son of Zeus, the greek god of prophecy, truth, sun and music, Apollo.

How to Visit Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

The Schönbrunn Palace, of which the Garden is a natural extension, opens every day at 6:00 AM, even on public holidays. While the Garden is accessible free of charge, you would be required to purchase individual admission tickets in order to visit the special attractions such as the Privy Garden, the Orangery or the Maze, which you can buy online prior to your visit. As the Schonbrunn Palace is well-connected, you can take any of the public transport, including underground trains, trams, and buses to reach the Garden.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Schönbrunn Palace Garden

Q. Can I visit the Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

A. Yes, you can visit the Schönbrunn Palace Garden from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM free of charge. However, if you wish to visit special attractions such as Orangery Garden, the Privy Garden, and the Palm House, you will be required to purchase individual admission tickets.

Q. Why is the Schönbrunn Palace Garden famous?

A. The Schönbrunn Palace Garden is one of the most exemplary Baroque-styled architectures of the 17th century that is a representation of the power and influence of the Habsburg empire.

Q. Why should I visit the Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

A. If you want to see the Baroque-styled architecture, the second largest Orangery in the world and the power and influence of the Habsburg empire, then you must visit the Schönbrunn Palace Garden. It is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Q. Do I need a separate ticket to visit the Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

A. No, you do not need a separate ticket to visit the Schönbrunn Palace Garden, as it's open to visitors free of charge. However, if you wish to visit special attractions such as the Privy Garden, the Orangery Garden, The Palm House, Maze or the Zoo then you will have to purchase separate tickets.

Q. What are the Schönbrunn Palace Garden timings?

A. Schönbrunn Palace Garden is open daily, including on public holidays, and the park gates open at 6:00 AM. The opening hours for the special attractions might vary.

Q. What’s inside the Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

A. The Schönbrunn Palace Garden comprises many special attractions, including the second largest orangery in the world, statues of many mythological figures, and the Baroque-styled Schönbrunn Palace.

Q. How long will I have to walk in the Schönbrunn Palace Garden?

A. To explore the Schönbrunn Palace Garden, you require around 3-4 hours, depending on how much you want to see. However, if you just wish to walk around only the Garden, it might take around 1-2 hours.