Like any other tourist would do in Vienna, visiting Schönbrunn Palace is a must. The palace is located in the Schönbrunn, not far away from where we stayed in Philadelphiabrücke. We arrived there in less than an hour by the U-Bahn Metro. A good public tranport i must say. We bought the "24-hour Vienna Ticket", in case we need it for the whole day long to find our way home, and that cost us €6.70. Quite a good deal as we can also use them on buses too.
That's me waiting for the U-Bahn Metro, heading to Floridsdorf, inter-changing at Meidling Hauptstraße to Schönbrunn.
I was astonished to read this little dog sign in the Metro that says "beißkorb und leinen" simply means dog to be muzzled and queue here. Ah-ha, dogs are allowed in the Metro....a complete opposite of what we have in Malaysia. Zoe will surely loves it here.
And finally......the Schönbrunn Palace standing right behind me...
We were early and didn't have to wait for long to enter. We took the classic pass that cost €16.50 is enough to cover for half a day tour and the hi-lites of the sight. The pass includes the visit to the Palace, Maze, Crown Prince Garden and the Gloriette.
And so we begins circuiting from the west wing of the palace. All the rooms that we are about to walk throughin the palace are very elaborated and profound and each of these room have their own stories to tell.
The Blue Staircase, used to be the dining hall in Joseph I's hunting lodge and was made into a ceremonial stairway when the lodge was converted into an imperial and family residence of Maria Theresa. It comes with the ceiling fresco, painted by the Sebastiano Ricci signifies a hero of war and man of virtue who finally receives the victor's crown of laurels before the throne of eternity.
the blue staircase..
the ceiling fresco..
the fishbone room..
the adjutants room..
the guard room..
the billiard room..
the walnut room..
The Emperor Franz Joseph Study Room. Franz Joseph, refers himself as the first public servant of his state, spent a condiserable part of his life at this very desk.
Ketterl Room. The emperor's personal valet-de-chambre, Eugen Ketterl who was responsible for Franz Joseph's well being.
the emperor's bedroom...
The western terrace cabinet leading into the Empress Elisabeth's aparments.
The stairs cabinet. Empress Elisabeth wrote numerous letters, poems and her diaries here. The spiral staircase was installed leading down into her apartments on the ground floor.
The dressing room. Everyday the Empress Elisabeth's took several hours to manage her magnificent head of hair here.
The imperial bedroom. This was the marital bedroom of the Emperor and Empress, however the bedroom was only used during their 1st year of marriage as the Empress rejected the oppresive formality of court life.
the empress salon..
Maria Antoinette room. Is a dining room with much of Viennese porcelain, court silverware and crystal glasses. This room is named after the tapestry, a gift from Napolean III to Emperor Franz Joseph, was hung here showing Marie Antoinette and her children. The painting in the middle shows Emperor Franz Joseph at the age of 20.
the children's room..
the breakfast room..
the yellow salon..
the mirror room..
the rosa room..
The great gallery (when my jaws drop). Gold shimmering setting for balls, receptions and banquets and the ceiling frescoes.
The small gallery, for smaller familiy celebration...
the chinese cabinet..
the carousel room..
The hall of ceremony..
The stallions room..
the lantern room..
the napolean room..
The rich bedroom. Emperor Franz Joseph was born in this room in 1830.
And finally, the hunting room, displaying the subjects of hunting and the imperial family..
Bought some souveniers (water globe, magnets and panaromic postcards) for myself..
With one of the many standing monuments along the park...
The failed attempt of jumping shot...
A horse carriage in the palace..
With the panaroma train....
The Privy Garden...which is sited in front of the east facade of the palace..
That's the Neptune Fountain..sited at the foot of the hill behind the palace
On the way up to Gloriette....behind me is the palace...
*phewww* reaching the Gloriette finally.....There, it is crown by a mighty imperial eagle perching on a globe and surrounded by trophies. The flat roof with its retaining balustrade is used as a viewing platform.
Close-up...you can see the eagle perching on a globe and surrounded by trophies...
Stairway up to the viewing platform....
Overseeing the palace on the Gloriette....
Jumping for help!! Got trapped in the maze...
Those are the harmony stones...where the larger one represents the male principle while the smaller one represents the remale principle...it is believe that by touching or embracing the corresponding stone, one can transfer harmony to oneself and their partner...and so i just threw myself on it...
It's time to gear up with butcher platter for Zwei and glass of Zweigelt to keep myself warm..
Butcher platter for two..
1st order on Vienna's infamous sacher torte (chocolate cake)..
Apple pancake....which is not very tasty...
The so-called must try Apfelstrudel doesn't taste very good too...
Few snaps before heading off from this beatiful place....
Goodbye Schönbrunn......till I see again ♥~
--sealed--
