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Vienna Schönbrunn Palace 
In the late 17th century, Emperor Leopold I (r.1658 – 1705) commissioned the Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to design an imperial hunting lodge for his son, Crown Prince Joseph, who was to become Emperor Joseph I (r. 1705 – 1711). During the reign of Empress Maria Theresa (r.1743 – 1780) the palace was expanded and remodelled, transforming it into a grand imperial summer residence in the Baroque architectural style. Today it is one of Austria’s most important cultural landmarks and reflects the grandeur and elegance of the Habsburg monarchy. The Palace and Garden of Schönbrunn was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 as being one of the most outstanding, impressive and well-preserved Baroque ensembles of its kind in Europe The gardens consist of the central flower beds and statues which is known as the Great Parterre.  This extends from the palace to the Neptune Fountain which depicts Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, surrounded by tritons and naiads.  Situated on a hill overlooking the fountain and the gardens is the Gloriette. This was built in 1775 to serve as a focal point of the garden. It also includes a number of other attractions such as the Botanical Garden which features a collection of plants from around the world; the orangery, which today is used for concerts and events; the Palm House which is a large greenhouse housing a variety of exotic plants; the Maze and Labyrinth which houses a variety of fun attractions for visitors. The gardens were opened to the public in 1779. Visitors will enter the palace from the front visitors’ entrance.  This is located in the front facade off the main square.  The palace has 1,441 rooms, although certainly not all are open to visitors. The route taken will depend on the tour that they take. One takes visitors up the stairs and leads into the Great Gallery which is one of its most impressive and opulent rooms and showcases the splendour of the Habsburg era. Used for court functions, banquets, and balls. Approximately 40 meters long and 10 meters wide, with a ceiling height of about 10 meters. It was the place for social gatherings and important state events. The walls are adorned with white and gold stucco work, while the ceiling, with its crystal chandeliers, is decorated with frescoes by the Italian artist Gregorio Guglielmi and depicts scenes celebrating the achievements of the Habsburg monarchy.  A smaller version of this room is the Small Gallery which leads off the Grand Gallery.  On either side of the Small Gallery are the East Asian Cabinets which were used by Maria Theresa and her close circle for social gatherings. The rooms have white panelling with different shaped and sized Chinese lacquer panels.  Further along is the Hall of Ceremonies.  This room contains a series of paintings depicting individuals and their dress, and a series of some of the notable events. Such as the wedding of Maria Theresa’s eldest son and heir Joseph to Princess Isabella of Parma, granddaughter of the French king Louis XV. One of the pictures shows Isabella’s entry into Vienna. The young bride was accompanied by the dignitaries of the Viennese court in a procession formed of almost one hundred carriages.  Another picture in this room shows the church ceremony depicting Mozart as a small boy. However, Mozart was not actually at this event, but as the painting took several years to paint and as Mozart had by that time become a significant musician he was included in the painting. The Carousel Room or First Antechamber acted as a ‘buffer zone’ between the Great Gallery and the apartments occupied by the imperial couple Maria Theresa and Franz Stephan in the East Wing of the palace. The paintings in this room were commissioned by Maria Theresa to show some of the most important events of her reign. The room’s name comes from the left-hand painting of the two set into the wall.  It shows the Ladies’ Carousel, where the ladies of the court, led by Maria Theresa, demonstrated their carriage-driving skills. This celebrated the military victory in the War of the Austrian Succession in 1743, when after the death of her father Emperor Charles VI, Maria Theresa was forced to defend her claim to power against half of Europe. The painting shows Maria Theresa and her ladies in the Winter Riding School in the Vienna Hofburg, which today hosts the performances of the Spanish Riding School. The painting to the right of the fireplace shows the first investment ceremony for the Order of St Stephen, which was founded by Maria Theresa in 1764 and was awarded for civil merit. Restoration work continues on many of the rooms which does not always exclude visitors. An example of this could be seen during the restoration of the Blue Chinese Salon carried out in 2024. This room was the council chamber of Emperor Francis Stephen I (r. 1745 – 1765). However, the room is famous for being where Emperor Charles I (r. 1916 – 1918) signed his abdication in 1918 marking the end of over 600 years of Habsburg rule.  The Vieux-Laque Room was used as a study by Emperor Franz Joseph I and is decorated with black lacquer panels from China, which were a gift from the King of Portugal to Empress Maria Theresa. The panels are set into white and gold Rococo frames, creating a striking contrast.  The Millions Room was used as a private audience chamber by Empress Maria Theresa. The room has rosewood panelling inlaid with precious woods and mother-of-pearl and is adorned with Indo-Persian miniatures, which were highly valued in the 18th century.  The Napoleon Room is named after Napoleon Bonaparte, and is decorated in the Empire style, which was popular during his reign. Napoleon stayed in this room during his occupation of Vienna in 1805 and 1809. Later this was to become the room of Napoleon’s son, who was to die here of consumption in 1832 at the age of 21.  The Porcelain Room was used as a study by Empress Maria Theresa and is decorated to resemble Chinese porcelain. The walls are covered with paintings that mimic the look of porcelain tiles.  The Rich Room contains the State bed of red velvet with embroidery using gold and silver thread. Commissioned by Maria Theresa, this is the only surviving bed of state from the Viennese court. Originally in a room in the Winter Palace; it was brought to the Schonbrunn Palace in 1980.  Within the room is a portrait showing Maria Theresa painted by Jean-Étienne Liotard, which is a particularly life-like impression of the monarch.  The above are just a few of the main rooms of the palace, further rooms and a plan of the palace can be accessed by clicking the link below and visiting the palace's official website. Visit Official website |
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All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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