Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria: description, map, how to get
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Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria: description, map, how to get
- Country: Austria
- City: Vienna
- Address: Schonbrunner SchloBstraBe 47
Schönbrunn Palace acted summer residence of Queen Elizabeth. The Palace complex was completed in the Baroque style. Its major attractions are the beautiful Park with a series of magnificent fountains, statues and ruins of Ancient Rome. In addition, the Belvedere provides visitors with a pavilion Gloriette and the oldest in the world zoo.
In 1918 on the territory of Austria was proclaimed a Republic, schönbrunn and deservedly became the main attraction of the capital of the new state.
The Palace complex is surrounded by pretentious bars on the sides of the gate at the entrance there are monumental obelisks. Halfway between the gate and the Palace is the large courtyard of the Ehrenhof. Its total area is 24 thousand square meters Ehrenhof surrounded by wonderful fountains. If you look left, you can see sculptures embody the Danube, Inn and Enns, and on the right are sculptures, representing in allegorical form Galicia and Transylvania.
Historical background
First buildings at this place is mentioned in manuscripts from the 15th century. On the territory of the Palace complex housed the estate under the name of Kattenburg, it belonged to the Klosterneuburg monastery.
Kaiser Matias came here to hunt and, according to legend, during one of the hunting activities in 1612, found a “Wonderful source”, in whose honor and called the next Palace. Water for a long time were supplied to the Imperial court.
Kaiser Ferdinand II and his wife Eleonora Gonzaga were also hunting. They chose this place for your country holiday. After the death of her husband crowned in 1637 Eleanor began living in the castle and gave it the name schönbrunn.
In 1683 at the sprawling Palace complex and only appeared the zoo was attacked by the Turks. At this time, the Ottoman army conducted the siege of Vienna. Erupted on the Palace site, the fires were subjected to the destruction of a large part of the estate.
Kaiser Leopold I engaged in the reconstruction of the Palace. In 1696, the architect Johann Bernard Fischer von Erlach launched a construction project. The basis was taken the project of the Palace of Versailles. The main work was finished in 1713, but was still unfinished.
Maria Theresa – the symbol of Schonbrunn
In the years when the country was ruled by Maria Theresa, the Palace complex really blossomed. Here trudged court intrigues, gave balls and received ambassadors from other countries. Schönbrunn became the official residence of the rulers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1742-1743. the construction of the Palace complex continued. The current view of the Palace since then almost has not changed.
Maria Theresa was a great lover of art and was given the task to build in the Northern part of Schonbrunn theater room. It was opened in 1747. In 1752 at the order of Kaiser Franz I founded the zoo, which today is the oldest on Earth.
The Palace complex of Schonbrunn contains a 1441 room of different sizes. 190 of them are leased to private entities. Tourists can explore only 41 room.
Special beauty and elegance differs in the Park near the Palace complex. Its area is 160 hectares, it was founded in the years 1705-1706 Jean acoustic recordings given the design decisions of the architect Johann Bernard Fischer von the Property.
The Park is designed in such a way that the Palace can be seen geometrically precise straight. At the intersections of the alleys of the Park are fountains that end of the Park pavilions or the Palace premises.
Other Palace attractions
The jewel of the Palace complex can rightly be called the Gloriette, located in the Park. It is made in the style of the early classics in 1775. On its project architect background, in the Suburbs. The rotunda was built to commemorate the victory of the Austrian Empire and Maria Theresa on the Prussia of Frederick II. During the Second world war, the Gloriette underwent partial destruction, but by 1948 it was restored and it acquired its original appearance.
I advise you to pay attention to:
- the fountain of Neptune
- artificially created ruins of Ancient Rome, which represent the destruction of Carthage
- building with a wonderful source
- the obelisk, located on large figures of turtles, on which you can learn about the history of the ancient Habsburg.