5 Fun Facts about the Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna

Schönbrunn Palace near Vienna

Schönbrunn is a national treasure and a European tourist hotspot, located in the city of Vienna, the palace’s history stretches back for centuries. Its walls have seen more than their fair share of action, and the gardens are just as interesting. Schönbrunn Palace is certainly worth a visit, but before you go, take a look at some interesting palace facts.

1.    Schönbrunn means ‘Beautiful Spring’ 

The name has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court. Once a floodplain, it became a designated hunting area before turning into a full time residence.

2.    The grounds have a maze, AND a labyrinth!

The great maze in Schönbrunn took over 40 years to complete and has 4 parts to it. If you make it to the centre, you can watch people get lost from an elevated platform. The labyrinth is a separate space, reconstructed according to the original designs, it covers a huge area and contains a plethora of games, challenges, and even riddles!

Schönbrunn Gardens at Summer

3.    You Can Find the Palace on a Coin

That’s right, the Austrian 10-euro coin, minted in 2003. The obverse shows the central part of the palace façade, behind one of the great fountains. These coins sell for prices upwards of €40 (£30) today!

4.    The Palace Was Once Headquarters for a British Military Garrison

Between the years of 1945–1955, Schönbrunn Palace, which had been lying empty, became the Headquarters for the British Military Garrison in Vienna. It was later to host the historical meeting between President Kennedy and Khrushchev in 1961.

5.    The Palace Had 2.82 million Visitors in 2012

The palatial complex is considered to be a European jewel, in 1996 it was declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO, and the palace and grounds are the most visited attractions in Austria. Schönbrunn is closely followed by Hallstatt village, Grossglockner Alpine Road, St Anton am Arlberg Ski Resort, Hofburg Imperial Palace, Vienna State Opera, and Melk Abby.

The Schönbrunn Palace

When most Austrians want to build a hunting lodge, they generally build a small shack somewhere up in the mountains. If you're lucky, it will have a well where you can draw water, and some of them will even have a wood-burning stove. When an emperor decides to build a hunting lodge, he tends to go a little overboard. The Schönbrunn Palace is not your typical Austrian place to stay.

The trouble is with the the Schönbrunn Palace, no matter how nice your Austrian hotel is, it will look distinctly shabby after you visit this exhibition of magnificence. There is a reason this palace is a UNESCO world heritage site, and it is also Austria's top tourist destination.

It started off as a place for the holy Roman emperors to stay in the summer. In typical Imperial style, the holy Roman Emperor of the time, Maximilian II, booted off the previous owner and took over his mansion. He ordered a large section of the area fence, and he used it as a hunting area. Over the centuries, orangeries, gardens, and mazes were added to the palace grounds. No self-respecting Emperor would be without some sort of Roman decoration, and the Roman ruin was created in 1778.

When you choose to go there, as I am confident you will when you visit Vienna, join a tour to learn more about the palace. There are also concerts throughout the year featuring the music of Mozart and his contemporaries. It's open all year round usually between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM, although it closes a little earlier in winter and stays open a little later in summer.

We found that spring was the best time to visit the gardens, as most of the flowers and trees were blooming at that time. The scent was absolutely incredible, although if you suffer from hay fever that might sound like torture. Try to get there early, as the crowd will build up towards the middle of the day, and take a look at its website before you visit to check what is going on. In addition, the latest pricing information will be on that site.

To get from your hotel to the palace, it's usually best to take the underground, so look for Schönbrunn Station. Alternatively, you can take bus 10A and ask for the Schönbrunn Palace. Trams also offer a good way to get there, and the 10 and 58 will drop you straight in front of the palace.

Viennese Waltz

We love staying in Vienna. Whether it’s at the end of a long cycling trip (see the Donauradweg cycle route) or at the start of a new trekking adventure, Vienna offers diversions galore. Vienna is food, is wine, is beauty, and is culture.

Our trips to Vienna often start with an intense planning session in our hotel room. Where have we been, where haven’t we been, and where shall we wander. We try to include as many sights as possible, although sometimes we still don’t have enough time to see everything!

The Spanish Riding School is one of the oldest dressage schools in the world. Sure, it’s a bit pricy, but the elegance of watching horses trot in complex patterns, jump over gates and barriers, and generally be controlled by expert hands is a pleasure in itself. Not to mention the architecture. Book well in advance, however, as tickets are sold out very quickly.

Schönbrunn Palace and the zoo accompanying it are classic Baroque marvels that can take all day to explore. You mustn’t miss a tour of the residence and the chance to admire the opulent surroundings. We loved the Tirolian gardens there and nearly became lost. Fortunately, we stumbled across one of Vienna’s big secrets: a surprisingly good puppet show hidden near the back of the gardens. The zoo has everything a zoo could want: pandas, giraffes, and thousands of butterflies. The Borneo exhibition is always worth a look, although it does get very warm in there.

Vienna’s Ringstrauss (ring boulevard) is an awe-inspiring piece of architecture. Around four miles long, it circles the city center like a set of walls; indeed that’s where the city walls were until they were torn down in 1857. For a lovely walk, start at your hotel and follow the boulevard around. On the way, you’ll encounter the State Opera House, the Museum of Fine Art, and the Austrian Parliament.

If it’s food you want, we would recommend the sublime Hotel Sacher in Philharmonikerstrasse. It’s the ultimate in Viennese cooking. If you’re after something less pricy, try the M Lounge in Hermanngasse or the Restaurant Der Kuckuck in Himmelpfortgasse. Both are excellent restaurants serving great Austrian food. We felt the M Lounge was very cheap for the food it offered, and we were surprised it wasn’t full when we went there after our epic cycling trip.

Finally, you must visit Vienna’s historic center. It’s like looking at an old photo of how city centers used to look and then realizing you’re in the present. Vienna has so much to offer every visitor, from great zimmers, apartments, and hotels, to delicious food, great coffee, and amazing attractions.

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