Schönbrunn Palace

Schönbrunn Palace Presents a New Face

In October 1992 the Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsgesellschaft m.b.H. (Schönbrunn Cultural Organisation an Operating Company Ltd.) took over administration of the Palace building from the former Palace authorities. Schönbrunn Palace is still under the owership of the republic of Austria but, unlike before, it is now administered and serviced by a federally-owned company operating on an private enterprise basis. The renovation work is financed with the proceeds from entrance fees for tours of the Palace and from renting out the grounds for various functions. Under a company geared to the private sector it has been possible to push ahead with the necessary renovation and alteration work in a much more effective way than before. This is important because it will enable us to provide visitors with the best possible facilities as quickly as possible. A visit to Schönbrunn ought to be an experience which one looks back on with delight. We are constantly trying to enlarge and improve what we have to offer our visitors. To this end we also seek an exchange of information with our visitors in order to become better acquainted with their wishes and needs.

Tours
As from 1994 the public can choose between two ways of viewing the State Apartements. For unaccompanied tours a free audioguide is now available (5 languages). If all audioguides are currently in use you will be given a written description of the tour you have chosen (10 languages). You will also be informed about all the most important dates in the history of the Palace and about the people who have lived here.
Imperial Tour:
On this unguided tour the visitor can see 22 state rooms; West wing: apartements of Emperor Franz Joseph und Empress Elisabeth, Central section: ceremonial and state rooms, Duration: ca. 35 min.
Grand Tour:
This tour gives visitors a chance to get to know 40 State Rooms of the Palace with a guide or unaccompanied. West wing: apartements of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth, Central section: ceremonial and state rooms; East wing: audience chambers of Maria Theresia and emporer Francis Stephan of Lorraine. Duration: ca. 35 min.
Our Program also includes a special Children´s Tour (german only):
On Saturday, Sundays and public holidays at 11.00 AM and 3.00 PM a specially trained guide follows a children´s route which, in addition to the customary tour, contains a few extra surprises.

Cultural Events
All visitors to Schönbrunn are invited to our Summer Programme in the Roman Ruin, the great Gallery and the Schönbrunn Palace Theater, which includes performances of opera, operetta and balett. The Schönbrunn puppet on the string theatre makes fairy tales come true in and choreographed to famous music like Mozart´s "The Magic Flute". Waltz Concerts are held every day (from April to December) in the White and Gold Rooms. Here we offer visitors high musical quality for a very moderate entrance fee.

Incentive Events
The White and Gold Rooms on the ground floor of the Palace are already the scene of many presentations, banquets, and gala dinners. The best catering restaurants in Vienna provide the service, preparing their culinary delights in accordance with client´s wishes. In 1997 the Orangery will be opened as a mulit-functional events center in the east wing of the Palace area. Concerts, conferences, and balls will begin to be staged again in the rooms which were once the scene of the famous musical contest between Mozart and Salieri, and where grand banquets were given by the Emperor. In our small Seminar Centre, in the Apothecary Wing, there is room for 20
to 25 people to work effectively in relaxing surroundings.

Cuisine
A variety of excellent restaurants and buffets allows Schšnbrunn visitors to experience a feast for the palate as well as for the eyes. The restaurant in the Court of Honour is run by DO&CO, one of the most renowned restaurants in Vienna. The buffet near the Main Entrance offers a great selection of refreshments, perfect for the visitor who is in a hurry. Restoration work on the Gloriette, which has been going on since autumn 1993, was finished by the end of October 1996, when it re-emerge resplendent in all its orginal glory. Polishing the central part of the Gloriette according to historical plans made it possible to use it for the Café Gloriette.

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