Schönbrunn Palace
Going to Austria, it is definitely worth visiting the Schoenbrunn Palace complex, located in the suburbs of Vienna. It is the main residence of the Austrian emperors of the Habsburg dynasty and one of the most beautiful palace and park complexes in Europe.
The Story of the Schönbrunn Butler
Let's go back to the past. Once, these lands belonged to the monastery. They were then sold to Kaiser Maximilian II. He created a nature reserve here and used it as a hunting ground. While hunting, he discovered springs on the territory, from which the name of the palace "Schöne Brunnen", which means "beautiful springs", originated. In 1696, under the supervision of architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, construction of the first building began. The then reigning Emperor Leopold I decided to build a palace no worse than the French Versailles. The emperor did not live to see the completion of the construction, and in 1705 the palace passed to his son Joseph I.
In 1728, the estate passed to Charles VI of Habsburg, the younger brother of Joseph I. He rarely came here when he went hunting. In the end, he decided to give Schoenbrunn to his heiress, Maria Theresa. During her reign, the palace was redone. He became the center of pompous court life. A theater, a park, a greenhouse, and a zoo were opened here, which are still operating today. Napoleon Bonaparte visited the palace twice, and his son lived here until his death. In 1918, after the overthrow of the monarchical system, the palace became the property of the state. Due to the bombing in 1945, the building was damaged. It was restored more than once, but it was only in 1992 that active restoration began. The Schoenbrunn Palace Complex was included in the UNESCO Cultural Heritage List in 1996.
Schoenbrunn today
Every year, tourists from all over the world come to Schoenbrunn, their number exceeds 8 million per year. There are 1,441 rooms in the palace, of which 200 are rented to private individuals, and 45 are available for viewing. One of the most beautiful halls is the Hall of Mirrors. It is decorated in the Rococo style, which is characterized by elegance, graceful ornaments, muted pastel colors, and asymmetrical compositions. In this hall, the six-year-old Mozart once played for the imperial person; solemn receptions were held here, ministers swore allegiance to the state. The lavish decoration of the Grand Gallery could not be better suited for the points. The composition “Allegory of the prosperity of the monarchy during the reign of Maria Theresa”, created by the Italian artist of the 18th century Gregorio Guglielmi, as well as crystal lamps, made a wonderful entourage for the historic meeting in 1961 between Khrushchev and Kennedy.
In the Small Gallery you can see a lot of gold stucco decorations. The walls are also decorated with frescoes, and the windows offer a beautiful view of the palace park. The royal box, made by craftsmen in the 18th century, has been preserved in Maria Theresa's bedroom. They worked especially carefully on the restoration of this room. The salon, which served as Empress Elizabeth's reception room, was also decorated in the new Rococo architectural style, which replaced the Baroque. In the salon, she received diplomats with credentials and gave audiences to petitioners. There are 3 portraits of the Empress and several pastel-painted images of her children on display in the room.
In the office of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph, there is a table preserved to this day, at which the crucial affairs of the state were decided. The room is decorated modestly, and the walls are decorated with many paintings and family photos. Among the rooms that deserve special attention, one can also mention: the Walnut Room, the Ceremonial Hall, the Napoleon Room, the Tapestry Room, the Great Rose Hall, etc. It is difficult to describe all the splendor of the decoration of the halls and rooms.
The Palace ensemble
The territory adjacent to the castle, the Schoenbrunn Palace complex, is a special attraction. The park has museums, greenhouses, sculptures, fountains, and an ancient zoo. This is the oldest zoo, one of the best in Europe. It won't take a day to see all the possessions. The Schoenbrunn Palace is a witness to the power of the Habsburg dynasty and a masterpiece of art. The atmosphere of history is in the air here. This place impresses with its grandeur and beauty.
