Schönbrunn

Schönbrunn is a Baroque palace and cultural complex in Vienna, Austria, located in the Hietzing district on the western outskirts of the city. The name means “beautiful spring,” a reference to a spring on the grounds. The complex comprises the palace, formal gardens, and extensive parkland that have long been associated with the Habsburg dynasty.

Schönbrunn Palace is a monumental residence with thousands of rooms and a defining example of Central European Baroque architecture. The palace and its gardens were developed in the 18th century as the imperial summer residence, with major interior redecorations and expansions under Empress Maria Theresa in the mid-1700s. The site served as a focal point of court life and political display during the Austro-Habsburg era.

Key features of the grounds include the Great Parterre, the Gloriette viewing pavilion on a hill behind the palace, and a network of fountains and statues. The complex also houses the Tiergarten Schönbrunn, Vienna’s zoo, established in 1752 and noted as one of the oldest zoos in the world still in operation.

Today, Schönbrunn functions as a major tourist and cultural site. Its palace interiors are accessible as museums illustrating imperial life, while the gardens and parkland are open to the public. In 1996, Schönbrunn Palace and Gardens was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exemplary Baroque architecture and landscape design and its historical significance within the Habsburg era.