This informative article about Schnbrunn Palace sent by our new reder Sono. She writes, One of the most important cultural monuments in Austria, Schnbrunn Palace is one of Vienna’s most popular tourist destinations. Purchased in 1569 by Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II as a hunting ground, it remained in the Hapsburg family for centuries, undergoing a series of renovations and expansions. Today, the palace grounds encompass an extensive park area that includes soaring fountains, a zoo and a botanic garden.  Visitors can tour the stunning Baroque palace, starting from the massive door at the top of the Blue Staircase and ending at the Franz Karl Apartments, where Archduchess Sophie and Archduke Franz Karl resided. Along the way, guests stop by rooms of all kinds to gain insight into the lifestyles and festivities of the palace’s most famous residents.

The name Schnbrunn (meaning “beautiful well”), has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court. During the next century, the area was used as a hunting and recreation ground. Especially Eleonore Gonzaga, who loved hunting, spent much time there and was bequeathed the area as her widow’s residence after the death of her husband, Ferdinand II. From 1638 to 1643, she added a palace to the Katterburg mansion, while in 1642 came the first mention of the name “Schnbrunn” on an invoice. The origins of the Schnbrunn orangery seem to go back to Eleonore Gonzaga as well. In the Turkish siege of 1683, the buildings were destroyed, and never restored.

About Author: Sono lives in Vienna, Austria with her family. Sono is a student of history in University of Vienna. Sono was born in India but raised in Vienna. Sono told us about this photo that it was taken when she was visiting Austrian landmarks. She visited Schnbrunn Palace, a royal residence in Austia, Veinna.

Being a historian Sono loves to talk about history, she doesn’t get bored when talking about this topic. Sono told about Schonbrunn palace that in the year 1569, Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II purchased a large floodplain of the Wien river beneath a hill, situated between Meidling and Hietzing, where a former owner, in 1548, had erected a mansion called Katterburg. The emperor ordered the area to be fenced and put game there such as pheasants, ducks, deer and boar, in order to serve as the court’s recreational hunting ground. In a small separate part of the area, “exotic” birds like turkeys and peafowl were kept. Fishponds were built, too.

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