Day 4 – The Schonbrunn Palace

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Baby it is cold outside …

Andrew and I on the hill above the Summer Palace
Andrew and I on the hill above the Summer Palace

That is an apt description of our second full day of museum visits in Vienna. After spending the previous day in the historic area of Vienna – it was time to hop on the train and head out to see the “summer palace” of the Hapsburg Royalty. After seeing some of the Royal Apartments in the main palace in downtown Vienna – I was ready for “more of the same”.

Boy was I wrong.

Stunning. Spectacular. Opulent.

These were all ways to describe our impressions following our visit to the Schonbrunn Palace.

The only other palace I have been in which is similar would be the Palace of Versailles in France.

After a relatively short 20 minute train ride, we arrived at the Schonbrunn Palace entrance and were able to use our Sisi Museum Multi-Pass to get in (it was called something else – but anytime I can squeeze in a reference to the Fifth Element – I had to). During tourist season entries are “timed” – but since we are here during the off-season we just walked right in.

The Schonbrunn stop was were we got off the train to see the Summer Palace.
The Schonbrunn stop was were we got off the train to see the Summer Palace.
This was early in the day - I was still warm ….
This was early in the day – I was still warm ….

The first part of the tour was completely unexpected … it was a combination of modern technology and innovative story telling to “set the stage” for the remainder of the tour.

We received a small listening device which detected which room you were in – so you just walked and listened. Each room told a different story about the last royal couple to spend significant time in the Summer Palace – Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elizabeth (known as “Sisi”) through dynamically changing images, historic photographs and artist reproductions. You spent several minutes in each room – and were treated to dynamically changing images, narrative story telling, and music. It was an amazing way to transport you back in time to when the palace was occupied by the Hapsburgs.

The use of projectors to change the wall displays was spectacular! Here was a visual description of the time Napoleon occupied Vienna.
The use of projectors to change the wall displays was spectacular! Here was a visual description of the time Napoleon occupied Vienna.
The same room as before - this is what the display looked like upon entering the room …
The same room as before – this is what the display looked like upon entering the room …

In case you wanted to linger in the rooms – you also got a very direct “Time to move on” at the end of the commentary – at which time you moved to the next room.

The second part of the tour was walking through the Royal living spaces in the palace – which were fully restored with original artwork and furniture. The craftsmanship displayed in many of the rooms was stunningly spectacular – especially the inlaid woodwork and incorporation of artwork into the walls and ceilings.

The great room is where there were huge banquets and dances. The ceiling paintings were amazing
The great room is where there were huge banquets and dances. The ceiling paintings were amazing
This was one of the numerous sitting areas in the palace.
This was one of the numerous sitting areas in the palace.
As a woodworker - I can appreciate the amazing work done to inlay these designs - without modern tools.
As a woodworker – I can appreciate the amazing work done to inlay these designs – without modern tools.
A period map showing the full extent of the Austrian-Hungary Empire - and surrounding countries.
A period map showing the full extent of the Austrian-Hungary Empire – and surrounding countries.

Following the indoor tour – Andrew and I went outside and hiked up a snowy hill to an overlook over the palace grounds. It was a spectacular view and we were glad we wore our boots and long underwear (it pays to be an Eagle Scout!) with us – as it was in the low teens (F) with high winds.

This was called “Gloriette” which built by Empress Maria Theresa in 1775.
This was called “Gloriette” which built by Empress Maria Theresa in 1775.
A look at the back of the Summer Palace from the bottom of the hill leading up to Gloriette.
A look at the back of the Summer Palace from the bottom of the hill leading up to Gloriette.

After several hours spent at the summer palace grounds – it was time to go back to the hotel and rest up a bit in time for an early dinner and preparation for a travel day to Prague on Monday.

As an active birder – I am always looking for new species to add to my “lifer bird list”. Yesterday I added a Hooded Crow to my list (which is now up to 83 species) which I photographed on our way to the train station.

A Hooded Crow - native to Eastern Europe.
A Hooded Crow – native to Eastern Europe.

All in all – an awesome last day in Vienna!

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