What does Schönbrunn mean in English?

The name "Schönbrunn" was mentioned for the first time. Meaning "Beautiful Spring", the name has its roots in an artesian well, where people of the court got their water.

Why is it called Schönbrunn?

The name Schönbrunn (meaning "beautiful spring") has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court. The 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country.

Why is the Schönbrunn Palace so famous?

From the 18th century to 1918, Schönbrunn was the residence of the Habsburg emperors. It was designed by the architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Nicolaus Pacassi and is full of outstanding examples of decorative art.

Who owns the Schönbrunn Palace?

The overall site and complex of Schönbrunn is owned by the Republic of Austria, and the operating company's contract with the state is based on a usufructuary right.

Who lives in Schönbrunn Palace?

Seemingly invisible to the thousands of tourists that visit Schönbrunn each year, around 400 people currently call the 90,000m² palace complex home. They live in the luxurious apartments and smaller studios which were once built for members of the imperial household and their staff.

Inside The Habsburg Family’s Imperial Palaces

What is the most beautiful palace in Vienna?

Schönbrunn Palace

Once owned by the Habsburg Monarchy and used as a summer residence, much of this stunning masterpiece can still be viewed in its original condition, with rooms that have been authentically furnished.

What was filmed at Schönbrunn Palace?

What is the secret of the Schönbrunn Palace?

The Secret Underground World

Beneath the palace lies a hidden network of tunnels and chambers that once served as the backbone of palace life. From servants' quarters to storage rooms, these underground passages offer a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes workings of the royal household.

Did Marie Antoinette live in Schönbrunn?

The palace was built at the end of the 17th century as a summer residence for the emperors of the Habsburg Empire. Marie Antoinette, Napoleon and Empress Elizabeth (better known as Sisi) have all lived at Schloss Schönbrunn at some point.

Where did Napoleon stay in Vienna?

When Napoleon occupied Vienna in 1805 and again in 1809 he chose Schönbrunn as his headquarters and is very likely to have used this room as his bedroom. Subsequently it became known as the Napoleon Room.

What is a fun fact about the Schönbrunn Palace?

2. Schönbrunn means "beautiful spring" The palace is named after the natural spring or the artesian well that once flowed through the area and provided the water stream to the court. The castle was built on a former hunting lodge site that the Habsburgs had used for centuries.

Where did Sisi live in Vienna?

First and foremost are of course the two residences that allow guests to immerse themselves in Sisi's life: the Schönbrunn Palace and the Hofburg. When the keen traveler Sisi was in Vienna, she lived here with her husband, the children and a giant royal household.

What happened to Schönbrunn Palace during WWII?

On 19 February 1945 the main building took a direct hit. A hail of broken window panes and roof tiles rained down, and a large hole yawned in the roof of the central wing. The décor of the Great Gallery was partially damaged by the impact, but luckily no fires broke out.

Why is Schönbrunn yellow?

From the middle of the nineteenth century the shade known as Schönbrunn Yellow began to prevail, possibly as a deliberate reference to the era of Maria Theresa. In 1830 Franz Joseph was born in the east wing of the palace, in the apartments occupied by his parents, Franz Karl and Sophie.

How old is Schönbrunn Palace?

The history of Schönbrunn and the buildings that previously stood on this site dates back to the fourteenth century. In 1569 the Katterburg estate came into Habsburg possession through Maximilian II. According to legend, Emperor Matthias discovered a spring that gave the estate the name it still bears today.

What were Marie Antoinette's last words?

[128][129] Her last words were "Pardon me sir, I meant not to do it", to Henri Sanson the executioner, whose foot she had accidentally stepped on after climbing the scaffold. Her body was thrown into an unmarked grave in the Madeleine cemetery, rue d'Anjou, (which was closed the following year).

Where is Marie Antoinette buried now?

Basilique de Saint-Denis

Finally, it is in the Basilica of Saint-Denis that Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette are buried for all eternity. This magnificent Gothic monument is the necropolis of the Kings of France and houses the tombs of 43 kings and 32 queens from the 7th to the 19th century.

Why did Marie Antoinette say "Let them eat cake"?

As the story goes, it was the queen's response upon being told that her starving peasant subjects had no bread. Because cake is more expensive than bread, the anecdote has been cited as an example of Marie-Antoinette's obliviousness to the conditions and daily lives of ordinary people.

Who owns the Schönbrunn Palace?

In 1992 Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges. m.b.H. was founded and entrusted with the administration of the palace as a limited-liability company solely owned by the Republic of Austria.

What is free at Schönbrunn Palace?

You can enter the Palace Park free of charge during opening hours. If you wish to visit to the Schönbrunn special attractions, such as the Privy Garden, the Orangery Garden or the Maze as well as the Zoo, the Palm House and the Desert House you need to purchase individual admission tickets.

Did they film The Empress in Schönbrunn Palace?

Several historical locations were used, including Schloss Weißenstein in Pommersfelden, which stood in for Schönbrunn Palace.

What is the dress code for Schönbrunn?

Our dress code is "Smart Casual" - appropriate attire for the occasion is recommended.

Where is the monastery in Vienna Blood?

This church is part of the Franciscan monastery on Vienna's Franziskanerplatz in the old town. The same area also appears as a location in the film, Before Sunrise.

Why does Vienna have so many palaces?

When the Habsburg Empire was at its height, every noble family worth its blue blood was putting up a Baroque or neo-Classical palace to glorify their name. Nowadays there are so many Vienna palaces that you'll find one on every corner (almost).