Wiener Wednesday - Sharpe Edition

We currently have Ben, Lindsay, and Clarissa Sharpe visiting us, so this week’s Wiener Wednesday will focus on our latest sight-seeing adventure:  Schönbrunn Palace!

Most of you may remember that we lived just a few blocks from Schönbrunn and had a beautiful view of the Gloriette from our living room.  Well, since my Schönbrunn knowledge has recently been renewed after our tour today, I thought I could share a few random facts about this lovely palace.

-  The land was first purchased by Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian II to be hunting grounds called Katterburg, but was destroyed by the Turkish siege in 1683.  Maria Theresa employed Nikolaus Pacassi to finish the grand Baroque palace from 1744-1749.

-  Schönbrunn was built to be the summer residence for the Austrian emperor and empress.

-  It is home to the oldest existing zoo, which was built in 1752.

-  The Gloriette, designed by Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg (yes, we all laughed at this ridiculously long name) in 1775, sits on a 60 meters high hill.  Empress Maria Theresa enjoyed eating breakfast on it terraces.

-  Schönbrunn, which means “beautiful fountain,” was named after a spring that lies on the grounds.  The spring is now surrounded by a beautiful Roman Ruins architectural feature, which was finished in 1778.

-  Napoleon used the palace as his headquarters from 1805-1809.

-  It was the meeting place for the late John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khrushchev in 1961 to talk about a joint moon program.

-  Emperor Franz Joseph died there in his sleeping chambers in 1916.

-  The UNESCO placed Schönbrunn Palace on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1996.

-  It is now home to the Wiener Philharmoniker’s free Sommernacht Concert usually held in beginning of June.  The orchestra sets up a stage in front of the Neptune Fountain and draws tens of thousands of people every year.  

-  In my opinion, it serves the best Wiener schnitzel in Vienna!  :o)