Schonbrunn+palace

The Schonbrunn Palace is the most visited tourist attraction in Vienna, Austria. Also, one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria.Schonbrunn means beautiful spring. It was given this name because of the artesian well that is found on its land. It was formerly the summer residence to various Hapsburg rulers. This land and its buildings stayed in the family until 1919. This expansive palace has 1,441 rooms! In front of the palace are beautiful gardens. In 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased a large floodplain of the Wien River. The land was between two hills where a previous owner built a mansion named Katterburg. He ordered the area to be fenced off and made it hunting grounds. He stocked it with wild game such as ducks, deers, pheasants, turkeys, and peafowl. For the next century, this land was used for hunting. Katterburg and the other buildings were badly damaged when Vienna was attacked by the Hungarians in 1605. Emperor Ferdinand II restored the buildings. After his death in 1637, Eleonora Gonzaga, his wife, added onto Katterburg and renamed it Schonbrunn.The Turkish invaded Austria in 1683 and Schonbrunn was destroyed. It’s rebirth came in 1696 when construction began on a new palace. Famous architect Fischer von Erlach was chosen to design the palatial estate. Due to the death of Charles II, King of Spain, he left the French to squabble over the throne because he did not have children. The War of the Spanish put a halt to Schonbrunn. Forty to fifty years later, Empress Maria Theresia brought Schonbrunn to its full glory. In 1752, the husband of Maria Theresia added the Schonbrunn zoological gardens. It is the oldest in the world. Since the 1700s, the palace has not changed much. It has only been maintained and restored. When the monarchy crumbled in 1918, the new Austrian Republic became the owner of Schonbrunn Palace. The impressive gardens of the Schonbrunn Palace features a Baroque layout. The Baroque design of the gardens was made to create an impact as a symbol of the imperial power in Austria. Schonbrunn castle is one of the biggest icons in Austria’s history and to this day is still a monument. From the huge palace, to the beautiful garden Schonbrunn is one of the most amazing sights you’ll ever see.