Belvedere Palace (Vienna): description and history of the most interesting Austrian landmark

Belvedere Palace in Vienna deservedly considered one of the most interesting sights of the Austrian capital. Every year it is visited by tens of thousands of tourists from all over the world. And this is not surprising, because one of the truly delightful masterpieces, erected in the Baroque style, is Belvedere. Vienna is rightfully proud of this palace complex. We suggest today to get to know this place better by learning about its history, appearance and interesting details. So, the Belvedere Palace!

History of sight

In 1716 the construction of a summer residence (intended for the famous commander - Prince Eugene of Savoy) began under the name Belvedere. Vienna was very proud of its hero, who made a huge contribution to the struggle with the Turkish troops. And the construction had to correspond to the high status of the latter. In translation from the Austrian "belvedere" means "beautiful view". The palace owes its name to the location on the hillside, from which a breathtaking view of the city and St. Stephen's Cathedral opens . The main architect of this building was Lucas von Hildebrandt.

At first it was planned to erect only one palace, which later became known as Belvedere Belvedere. In this building, as already mentioned, the Prince of Savoy was to spend time in the summer. However, a year later it was decided to erect a second palace, intended for official receptions. It was located opposite the first structure and was named Upper Belvedere.

Change of ownership and further history

As you know, Eugene of Savoy had no children. After the death of the prince, Belvedere (Vienna) was bought by Anna Victoria. A few years later the palace again changed its owner. This time his mistress was Empress Maria Theresa, who planned to place here a royal collection of works of art. She realized her idea, and in 1779 ordered the opening of palaces and adjoining gardens for general public. At the end of the XIX century, the collection kept in the Belvedere was transported to a specially constructed for this purpose Art History Museum of Austria.

What is the future of Belvedere Castle? Vienna in 1918 received it in municipal ownership, and the complex was given the status of a museum. The basis for this was the collection of canvases, statues and other masterpieces belonging to Prince Eugene of Savoy. After all, he was not only a talented military commander, but also a passionate patron of the arts, who in his lifetime gathered an impressive collection of sculptures and paintings from different parts of Europe.

In 1955 Belvedere (Vienna) played an important role in the life of the whole country. After all, it was within its walls that the Declaration declaring the independence of Austria was signed.

Today the former residence is visited annually by thousands of tourists from different countries. In the palace itself is the Austrian National Gallery.

Lower Belvedere

As we have already mentioned, the complex consists of two palaces and a garden. So, in the Lower Belvedere several centuries ago the apartment of the Prince of Savoy was located. Until now, there is a luxurious original atmosphere with an impressive collection of paintings and sculptures. Walking around the palace, you can look into the bedroom of the prince, the dining room, the Mirror Hall and the Golden Cabinet. The real pearl of the Lower Belvedere can be called the Marble Hall, decorated with stucco bas-reliefs, statues and frescoes depicting the Prince of Savoy in the image of Apollo. Attention deserves the Grotesque Hall. It is decorated in the ancient Roman style, and there you can see amazing sculptures with distorted faces.

In general, Belvedere Belvedere is a baroque museum , sculpture and painting of Austria from the 17th to 18th centuries. Nearby are the palace stables, where today there is a museum of Austrian art from the Middle Ages. Also near the Lower Belvedere there is a magnificent greenhouse, where a huge variety of alpine flora is represented.

Upper Belvedere

The upper Belvedere Palace rises majestically at the top of the slope in the southern part of the park. A great impression on the visitors is made by its richly decorated facades with a large number of sculptures embodying the victory over the Turks, a huge contribution to which was made by the first owner of the palace - the Prince of Savoy.

As for the interior decoration, due to the fact that the halls were actively used until the middle of the last century, the original interior is almost not preserved. Today in Nizhve Belvedere you can admire the collection of Austrian art of the XIX-XX centuries, represented by the works of Monet, Van Gogh, Schiele, Kokoschka, Renoir, Klimt.

Garden

The territory between the palaces is occupied by a magnificent garden. It has three levels, which are separated from each other by two large cascades, decorated with beautiful sculptures.

Belvedere, Vienna: directions

It's not difficult to come to Belvedere independently. So, if you want to visit the Upper Palace, then take the tram D (stop Schloss Belvedere) or O (stop Belvedere Quartier). Also, you can get to the last station by bus 69A. In addition, the Belvedere can be reached by metro (branch U1) and by suburban train. As for the Belvedere Belvedere, then a tram 71 goes to him. You need to leave at the Unteres Belvedere stop.

Belvedere (Vienna): Opening hours

The Belvedere Gardens are open all year round during the day. You can get to the Upper Palace every day from 10 am to 6 pm. The lower Belvedere and stables work on the same schedule. However, on the territory of these buildings, the entrance on Wednesdays is open from 10 am to 9 pm. As for the ticket price, for adults it is 30 euros, and for students - 25 euro. Purchased tickets are valid for thirty days from the first visit to the palace complex.