Austria’s most popular tourist attraction owes its existence to the
megalomania of the Habsburgs. After the destruction of the first castle
in 1683, Emperor Leopold I charged the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer
von Erlach with building an idyllic complex whose pomp and splendour had
to surpass that of Versailles. However, these plans were superseded by a
less grand project. Today’s rococo palace with its 1,441 rooms dates
from the times of Maria Theresia, who charged the Court architect
Nikolaus Parcassi with re-designing the place in 1740. One can visit 40
rooms, including the Imperial Suites, e.g. the Spiegelsaal (Hall
of Mirrors), where the six-year-old Mozart played in front of an
enraptured Empress. One can also visit the Millionenzimmer with
its rosewood panelling. The castle and the French gardens with flower
beds and statues from a magnificent entity that transport the visitor
into a special mood at once. Next to the botanic gardens lies the Palmen-
und Schmetterlingshaus (Palm-and Butterfly House) (May-September
daily 9.30am-5.30pm, October-April till 4.30pm), a futuristic-looking
iron-and-glass construction from 1883 where exotic plants grow. In the Wagenburg
one can admire imperial carriages and coaches (November-March,
Tuesday-Sunday 10am-4pm, April-October daily 9am-6pm).
At the
end of Nov/end of Dec, the large Culture and Christmas market
takes place on the terrain, with the exhibition ‘Weinachten rund um den
Globus’ (Christmas all over the world), concerts, performances of choirs
and folk dancing groups on the stage at the square of honour, baking
cookies at the imperial bakery of Cafe Residenz, etc.
Schloss
Schönbrunn