Schönbrunn Palace, one of the most popular monuments in Austria, should never be missing from the program of our foreign friends visiting Vienna.
Schönbrunn originally functioned as a hunting lodge, and then in the 18th century, during the reign of Maria Theresa, it was expanded into a stunning Baroque residence, thus becoming the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty. The castle and its vast park were the center of imperial splendor and European politics until 1918. Its name, which means ‘beautiful spring’, is said to have come from an artesian well discovered in the 17th century.
The history of the castle is connected to Hungary in many ways, primarily through Emperor and King Francis Joseph and Queen Elisabeth (Sisi). Schönbrunn was the main residence for the royal couple, and the most important events of the Monarchy took place here.
Queen Elisabeth, who was loved by the Hungarians, often stayed here, although she much preferred the more secluded Gödöllő Castle. The compromise reached after the Hungarian coronation (1867) also politically linked the castle to Hungarian history, as the monarch made important decisions affecting the entire Monarchy here. Franz Joseph died here in 1916, thus ending the brilliant era of the Habsburg Monarchy.
Schönbrunn is not only an architectural masterpiece, but also a historical site deeply embedded in the common Hungarian-Austrian past.
