alfredlexx60 (Soldat Chvéïk de retour)
Wien, 13. Bezirk (Schloss Schönbrunn), Palacio de Schönbrunn, Schönbrunn Palace, Palazzo di Schönbrunn, le Palais de Schönbrunn (Schlosspark - castle park, parc du château, jardines del palacio, giardino del palazzo)
(for further pictures and information please contact the link at the end of page!)
Schönbrunn Palace - History
Already in the 14th century was here a plot of land with buildings. The property was then called 'Katterburg', included a mill and a public house with wine and was in possession of the Klosterneuburg (small city in Lower Austria) Monastery. Over time the property was extended and by 1548 of Mayor Bayer to a manor expanded.
In 1569 the Habsburg Maximilian II purchased the property. His goal was primarily to build a zoo, which mainly consisted of indigenous poultry and wild game. After Maximilian's death in 1576 the Katterburg went into the possession of Rudolph II. In 1605, Hungarian troops destroyed the garden of Katterburg which was then only provisionally repaired. Namesake of Schönbrunn should have been Emperor Matthias, who while hunting on the premises discovered a source in 1612 which spawned crystal clear water.
The Katterburg about 1672
This fountain was so beautiful that he should give the property the future name. Emperor Ferdinand II, the successor Matthias', spent as a passionate hunter a lot of time in Schonbrunn. When he died spent his widow Eleonora Gonzaga, who was also very attached to the Jägertum (passion for hunting) a lot of time in Schönbrunn and indulged from then on a rich social life. This soon demanded a more representative environment as it was the old Katterburg, so she in 1642 had built a castle, whose name Schöbrunn in the same year for the first time was recorded in a document. At the same time she had also the garden broadened and expanded, often offering room for business meetings.
During the second Turkish siege in 1683 the grounds and Gebäulichkeiten (old buildings) were largely destroyed, whereupon the Emperor Leopold I., who acquired the plant in 1686, for his successor Joseph I wanted to have constructed a new building of the castle. For this project, the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach was consulted, which submitted a draft in 1688 to prove his architectural skills. Then Fischer von Erlach was hired immediately and has since worked for the court and nobility. Finally, he was commissioned in 1693 by Leopold I to design a concrete blueprint for the castle. Three years later with the construction was begone, and in the spring of 1700 the central wing was completed and habitable. As a result of the Spanish war of succession arose financial gaps, which greatly slowed the progress of construction of the side wings. And when Joseph died suddenly, they were discontinued altogether. In the coming years the unfinished palace served the Wilhelmine Amalie as a widow seat.
Emperor Charles VI. bought the chateau in 1728 with the baroque garden. However, he remained there merely for pheasant hunting. Therefore, he gave the whole castle to his daughter Maria Theresa, who has since always had a heart for the Palace Schönbrunn. This meant the beginning of the first heyday of Schönbrunn Palace. End of 1742, construction work on the castle was resumed and led to the great complex as it is found today. Maria Theresa engaged the experienced architect Nikolaus Pacassi for the management of construction. 1745 the new palais chapel was opened which still completely was based on the plans of Fischer von Erlach. In the following year, already could be moved into the residential and audience spaces in the east wing. Thus, the completion went on until an extension of the castle was needed because the imperial family experienced brisk growth. Between the main floor and the upper floors a mezzanine was inserted with living spaces for the imperial children. The baroque garden was subjected to strict symmetrical order, which was particularly manifested in the application of the flower beds and paths. The beds were in large part made of boxwood and were lined with colorful stones. The plant was like a carpet with rich ornaments.
It was Maria Theresa's desire to accommodate a castle theater in the building. It found its place in the northern courtyard wing and was opened in 1747. The Empress herself namely was a talented singer, and also her children were involved artistically at New Castle Theatre appearing themselves as singers and actors. Yet shortly after 1750, Maria Theresa had to expand the castle one more time, as the imperial family had grown again. In the west wing arose another mezzanine, now leading to the outer appearance of the castle, representing a symmetry and thus the facade could finally be completed. Here ended the first renovation phase.
The second renovation phase was less object of spatial extensions, because rather were made changes to existing premises. The big and the small gallery received a vaulted ceiling with lavish stucco of Albert Bolla and huge frescoes by Gregorio Guglielmi. The result was a masterpiece of Rococo. The neighboring rooms were of a similar standard, and nowhere with rocaille, mirrors, tapestries, paintings, and other precious decorative elements was economized. From 1753 Franz Stephan in the Hietzinger area of the castle park had laid out the so-called Dutch garden, in which arose an extensive collection of exotic plants, which should serve scientific purposes.
Another phase of equipment activities began after the death of Emperor Franz I. Stephan in 1765, Maria Theresa profoundly affecting. In order to express her grief and to commemorate her late husband, she had in the eastern wing numerous rooms equipped to Memorial rooms. In doing so, to her nothing was too expensive, and so arose richly decorated rooms with precious lacquer panels, specially acquired wood panelings from distant lands, finest fabric upholstery and many other exclusivities.
One last important phase of expansion began in the 70s of the 18th century, as Empress Maria Theresa had the gardens by the court architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf of Hohenberg expanded.
Under his leadership, the Gloriette, the monumental Fountain of Neptune, the Roman artificial ruin, the Obelisk, the avenues and all the places and ways with the countless statues and sculptures, mainly originating from Wilhelm Beyer emerged. The design of the whole complex was until shortly before Maria Theresa's death in 1780 under way. From 1779 on, the park was open to the public. After that, the castle stood empty except for the years 1805 and 1809, in which Napoleon Schönbrunn occupied. After the Congress of Vienna in the years 1814/15 came up renewals, which were urgently needed. The facade was given according to plans by Johann Adam a completely new face: He removed the exuberant Rococo paneling and gave the castle its present appearance.
Another golden age began for Schönbrunn when Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1848 took over the Austrian rule. Schönbrunn was in fact already in his childhood his favorite. He inhabited as Emperor the premises of the West Wing, where he remained throughout his life. Except for the audience rooms, the rooms were refurbished in Franz Joseph's living area.
With a comparatively sober and simple setup of bourgeois character they were provided, which enables to conclude on Franz Joseph's personality. Even with the marriage and the arrival of Elisabeth of Bavaria ("Sisi" or the "Sissi") and on the occasion of the later family growth extensive device-specific changes have been made, yet much remained from the time of Maria Theresa. On the occasion of the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 even a large part has been restored. Extensive renovations, extensions and additions to the Maria Theresa Rococo style were made mainly to the galleries and to the premises in the east wing. The Dutch garden was transformed into an English garden and in it in the years 1880-82 was built the famous Palm House, a huge building made of glass and iron. Now, the final face of Schönbrunn was created, as it is known today throughout the world.
Wien, 13. Bezirk (Schloss Schönbrunn), Palacio de Schönbrunn, Schönbrunn Palace, Palazzo di Schönbrunn, le Palais de Schönbrunn (Schlosspark - castle park, parc du château, jardines del palacio, giardino del palazzo)
(for further pictures and information please contact the link at the end of page!)
Schönbrunn Palace - History
Already in the 14th century was here a plot of land with buildings. The property was then called 'Katterburg', included a mill and a public house with wine and was in possession of the Klosterneuburg (small city in Lower Austria) Monastery. Over time the property was extended and by 1548 of Mayor Bayer to a manor expanded.
In 1569 the Habsburg Maximilian II purchased the property. His goal was primarily to build a zoo, which mainly consisted of indigenous poultry and wild game. After Maximilian's death in 1576 the Katterburg went into the possession of Rudolph II. In 1605, Hungarian troops destroyed the garden of Katterburg which was then only provisionally repaired. Namesake of Schönbrunn should have been Emperor Matthias, who while hunting on the premises discovered a source in 1612 which spawned crystal clear water.
The Katterburg about 1672
This fountain was so beautiful that he should give the property the future name. Emperor Ferdinand II, the successor Matthias', spent as a passionate hunter a lot of time in Schonbrunn. When he died spent his widow Eleonora Gonzaga, who was also very attached to the Jägertum (passion for hunting) a lot of time in Schönbrunn and indulged from then on a rich social life. This soon demanded a more representative environment as it was the old Katterburg, so she in 1642 had built a castle, whose name Schöbrunn in the same year for the first time was recorded in a document. At the same time she had also the garden broadened and expanded, often offering room for business meetings.
During the second Turkish siege in 1683 the grounds and Gebäulichkeiten (old buildings) were largely destroyed, whereupon the Emperor Leopold I., who acquired the plant in 1686, for his successor Joseph I wanted to have constructed a new building of the castle. For this project, the architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach was consulted, which submitted a draft in 1688 to prove his architectural skills. Then Fischer von Erlach was hired immediately and has since worked for the court and nobility. Finally, he was commissioned in 1693 by Leopold I to design a concrete blueprint for the castle. Three years later with the construction was begone, and in the spring of 1700 the central wing was completed and habitable. As a result of the Spanish war of succession arose financial gaps, which greatly slowed the progress of construction of the side wings. And when Joseph died suddenly, they were discontinued altogether. In the coming years the unfinished palace served the Wilhelmine Amalie as a widow seat.
Emperor Charles VI. bought the chateau in 1728 with the baroque garden. However, he remained there merely for pheasant hunting. Therefore, he gave the whole castle to his daughter Maria Theresa, who has since always had a heart for the Palace Schönbrunn. This meant the beginning of the first heyday of Schönbrunn Palace. End of 1742, construction work on the castle was resumed and led to the great complex as it is found today. Maria Theresa engaged the experienced architect Nikolaus Pacassi for the management of construction. 1745 the new palais chapel was opened which still completely was based on the plans of Fischer von Erlach. In the following year, already could be moved into the residential and audience spaces in the east wing. Thus, the completion went on until an extension of the castle was needed because the imperial family experienced brisk growth. Between the main floor and the upper floors a mezzanine was inserted with living spaces for the imperial children. The baroque garden was subjected to strict symmetrical order, which was particularly manifested in the application of the flower beds and paths. The beds were in large part made of boxwood and were lined with colorful stones. The plant was like a carpet with rich ornaments.
It was Maria Theresa's desire to accommodate a castle theater in the building. It found its place in the northern courtyard wing and was opened in 1747. The Empress herself namely was a talented singer, and also her children were involved artistically at New Castle Theatre appearing themselves as singers and actors. Yet shortly after 1750, Maria Theresa had to expand the castle one more time, as the imperial family had grown again. In the west wing arose another mezzanine, now leading to the outer appearance of the castle, representing a symmetry and thus the facade could finally be completed. Here ended the first renovation phase.
The second renovation phase was less object of spatial extensions, because rather were made changes to existing premises. The big and the small gallery received a vaulted ceiling with lavish stucco of Albert Bolla and huge frescoes by Gregorio Guglielmi. The result was a masterpiece of Rococo. The neighboring rooms were of a similar standard, and nowhere with rocaille, mirrors, tapestries, paintings, and other precious decorative elements was economized. From 1753 Franz Stephan in the Hietzinger area of the castle park had laid out the so-called Dutch garden, in which arose an extensive collection of exotic plants, which should serve scientific purposes.
Another phase of equipment activities began after the death of Emperor Franz I. Stephan in 1765, Maria Theresa profoundly affecting. In order to express her grief and to commemorate her late husband, she had in the eastern wing numerous rooms equipped to Memorial rooms. In doing so, to her nothing was too expensive, and so arose richly decorated rooms with precious lacquer panels, specially acquired wood panelings from distant lands, finest fabric upholstery and many other exclusivities.
One last important phase of expansion began in the 70s of the 18th century, as Empress Maria Theresa had the gardens by the court architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf of Hohenberg expanded.
Under his leadership, the Gloriette, the monumental Fountain of Neptune, the Roman artificial ruin, the Obelisk, the avenues and all the places and ways with the countless statues and sculptures, mainly originating from Wilhelm Beyer emerged. The design of the whole complex was until shortly before Maria Theresa's death in 1780 under way. From 1779 on, the park was open to the public. After that, the castle stood empty except for the years 1805 and 1809, in which Napoleon Schönbrunn occupied. After the Congress of Vienna in the years 1814/15 came up renewals, which were urgently needed. The facade was given according to plans by Johann Adam a completely new face: He removed the exuberant Rococo paneling and gave the castle its present appearance.
Another golden age began for Schönbrunn when Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1848 took over the Austrian rule. Schönbrunn was in fact already in his childhood his favorite. He inhabited as Emperor the premises of the West Wing, where he remained throughout his life. Except for the audience rooms, the rooms were refurbished in Franz Joseph's living area.
With a comparatively sober and simple setup of bourgeois character they were provided, which enables to conclude on Franz Joseph's personality. Even with the marriage and the arrival of Elisabeth of Bavaria ("Sisi" or the "Sissi") and on the occasion of the later family growth extensive device-specific changes have been made, yet much remained from the time of Maria Theresa. On the occasion of the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 even a large part has been restored. Extensive renovations, extensions and additions to the Maria Theresa Rococo style were made mainly to the galleries and to the premises in the east wing. The Dutch garden was transformed into an English garden and in it in the years 1880-82 was built the famous Palm House, a huge building made of glass and iron. Now, the final face of Schönbrunn was created, as it is known today throughout the world.