Vienna highlights: a fall visit to Schonbrun

Vienna highlights: a fall visit to Schonbrunn

Vienna highlights: a fall visit to Schonbrunn palace

I’m walking a path between symmetrical lines of maple trees blanketing the graveled pathways brimming with fall colors: orches, yellow, burnt orange and deep crimson.

But it’s mostly filled with the huge piles of yellows from those topiaried lines of maple trees all leading to the grand entryway – or actually the carriage entry to Schonbrun.

 

 

Carriage entryway to Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna

Carriage entryway to Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna

 

Carriage entry to Schonbrunn Palace

I see some wonderful horse-drawn carriages touring the grounds and fantasize about what an invitation to this stunning palace would have been like in the days of the Hapsburg rulers – quite grand and on par with the other magnificent European palaces in Paris, Bavaria and St. Petersburg. The entry courtyard is huge and can accommodate a large influx of carriages, only now it’s mostly people who are allowed to enter through the ornate entrance and directly into the palace reception areas.

 

Front entry of Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Front entry of Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

 

Facade window detail

Front entry detail at Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Front entry detail at Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

 

 

Even though Vienna palaces do not allow any photos taken of the interiors, the exterior facades, auxiliary buildings and the gardens are quite magnificent to photograph. I sign up for one of the tours with too many rooms to count and they all seem to flow from one right into another. They are all exquisite and filled with luxurious tapestries, paintings, chandeliers and period crafted furniture from the many Hapsburg generations. It’s an almost endless array of glitz, gold, silver, crystal and all the luxurious materials made for royal lifestyle and needs.

 

 

Carriage rides at Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Carriage rides at Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

 

 

The park grounds and gardens are expansive at Schonbrunn. Try to make it to the top at the Gloriette monument for a fantastic view of the grounds and the main palace. Below is a photo of a panoramic landscape of the area around the Schonbrunn palace. The Gloriette now houses a nice cafe offering a variety of beverages, light meals and desserts, worth doing with such a panoramic view of Vienna, even if you want to enjoy a light snack or dessert.

 

 

Panoramic view of Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

Panoramic view of Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna

 

Lunch is a wonderful experience at the Gloriette

 

The Gloriette was the monument at the crest of a hill overlooking Schonbrunn

The Gloriette was the monument at the crest of a hill overlooking Schonbrunn

 

 

So I don’t bore you with too many details, I’ll save a tour of the Schonbrunn gardens for my next post. You definitely need to see these fall gardens, they are quite spectacular in their colorful landscape and views from the expansive park around the palace.

 

If you enjoyed reading this visit to Schonbrunn, check out my post to another palace in Vienna

A visit to Belvedere Palace in Vienna

 The Schonbrunn gardens in fall time

 If you plan on visiting Schonbrunn:

Schönbrunn Palace | Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse 47 | 1130 Vienna | Austria

Hours are from 8:30 to 5:30pm

Park grounds are open at 6:30am

Ticket prices varies with the tour you take, check here for the list of prices and tours.

There are a variety of restaurants and cafes in and around the palace, check here for locations

Did you know you can stay at the Schonbrunn, check here for more details

For more information and details about visiting Schonbrunn, visit their website here.

 

 Thanks for dropping by for a fall visit to Schonbrunn, if you enjoyed the post, please do share it with any of the social media buttons on the post, thank you.

Sharing is caring!