Vienna: Schloß Schönbrunn

The weather was cold and windy. Not the best day to visit Schloß Schönbrunn (The Castle Schönbrunn), but as that was the forecast for the remainder of our time in Vienna, I went ahead and visited, not entirely sure my umbrella was going to hold up until I reached the castle nor if I would be able to view the gardens because of the rain, but all the heavy rain ended by the time my tour finished.

(Photo is from the back of the castle, facing out toward the gardens and the Gloriette
as seen below)
The imperial Palace of Schönbrunn originally began as an estate in the 14th century and belonged to a monastery, however in the mid 1500's it come into the imperial possession through Emperor Maximilian II, who used it primarily as pleasure gardens and a game preserve. Legend has it that the discovery of the "Fair Spring," or Schöner Brunnen, is how it received its name. But it was in the early 16oo's before a palace was built. In the late 1600's a new palace, primarily to be used as a hunting lodge, was built. However it truly became a palace when Maria Theresa reigned Austria. The palace was enlarged and redecorated in the lavish Rococo style and the gardens were expanded.

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