It’s well worth climbing up the hill to the gloriette for the glorious view over the Schönbrunn Palace and gardens.
If you stand by the Neptune Fountain in the middle of the park, you’ll see the palace on one side and the 18th century gloriette on the other. The mazes are also fun, but be careful you don’t get lost – they were known and loved during the baroque period for their clever design! The park is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, get some exercise or just enjoy a gentle stroll. The gardens themselves are very popular with locals and you’ll certainly pass at least one person out running. In 1996, both the palace and its gardens were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s all very well done, so much so that the tour leaves you hungry to find out more about imperial life – something you can luckily do at the Sisi Museum and Vienna Furniture Museum, both of which form part of the Schönbrunn Palace but are located in the city centre. Walking through the exhibition, it almost feels like the Emperor and Empress have rolled out the red carpet for their guests – like you’ve been granted an audience with the Emperor in his study, asked to admire the Empress’ wardrobe, or invited to dine with them both one evening.
Unsurprisingly, the main focus is on the famous Empress Elisabeth – known as Sisi (or ‘Sissi’ as it is often spelt following the release of the Sissi films in the 1950s) – and her relationship with Emperor Franz Joseph. The information in the rooms is very accessible, painting a fascinating picture of how the imperial household lived, worked and celebrated.
0 kommentar(er)
