Schönbrunn Palace
Being there
Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. It is the ultimate palace experience in Vienna, because the Habsburg summer palace can be found here. It is comparable in grandeur to Versailles and is definitely a must-see in Vienna. The palace has seen its fair share of excitement over the years, including a meeting between John F. Kennedy and Nikita Khruschchev at the height of the cold war. There are two possible tours available, the Imperial Tour showing 22 rooms and the Grand Tour showing 40 rooms. The shorter tour takes you into the west wing including the apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), as well as the imposing state rooms in the central wing. With the Grand Tour you can also visit the 18th-century rooms from the time of Maria Theresa. No photos, video taping, or backpacks allowed inside. The palace is wheelchair-accessible.; If you visit during late November to late December, or during Easter, then there will be a Christmas/Easter market open, where you can buy small gifts.
The story
Schönbrunn Palace (German: Schloss Schönbrunn [ˈʃlɔs ʃøːnˈbʁʊn] ) was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, located in Hietzing, the 13th district of Vienna. The name Schönbrunn (meaning "beautiful spring") has its roots in an artesian well from which water was consumed by the court.
The 1,441-room Baroque palace is one of the most important architectural, cultural, and historic monuments in the country. The history of the palace and its vast gardens spans over 300 years, reflecting the changing tastes, interests, and aspirations of successive Habsburg monarchs. It has been a major tourist attraction since the mid-1950s.