Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace is a Baroque palace complex in Vienna that served as the Habsburgs’ principal summer residence. Its gardens, interiors, and historic buildings form a major Austrian cultural landmark.

Habsburg monarchy: The Central European dynastic monarchy ruled by the House of Habsburg for centuries. The Habsburgs made Schönbrunn their summer residence and commissioned its successive expansions.
Katterburg: The earlier hunting lodge and estate on the site that became Schönbrunn Palace. The palace grew from this Habsburg property rather than appearing as a single completed project.
Hall of Mirrors: A ceremonial room in Schönbrunn Palace known for its mirrors and Rococo decoration. The room’s courtly setting is associated with the young Mozart’s performance before Maria Theresa.
Abolition of the Habsburg monarchy: The end of Habsburg rule in Austria in 1918, following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. The monarchy’s fall ended Schönbrunn’s role as an imperial residence.
Baroque architecture: An architectural style characterized by dramatic scale, movement, rich ornament, and theatrical effects. Its monumental composition and ornate interiors express the palace’s Baroque identity.
Leopold I: Holy Roman emperor from 1658 to 1705 and head of the House of Habsburg. Leopold I commissioned Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to develop a grand palace plan.
Great Gallery: The grand ceremonial hall at Schönbrunn Palace, used for court festivities and receptions. Its scale and decoration show how the palace staged Habsburg power.
Republic of Austria: The sovereign republic established in Austria after the Habsburg monarchy ended in 1918. The palace passed from dynastic use into the stewardship of the Austrian state.
Vienna: The capital of Austria, situated on the Danube River in Central Europe. Schönbrunn’s location connects the imperial residence to Vienna’s political and cultural history.
Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach: An Austrian Baroque architect and designer active in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. His plans established the ambitious architectural vision for Schönbrunn.

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Prince Eugene of SavoyRelated: Eugene’s military success helped define the imperial world whose architecture flourished in Vienna.