Schönbrunn Palace, the Hofburg, and the Imperial Burial Vault: imperial sightseeing in Vienna takes in some of the most attractive parts of the capital.
Emperor Franz Joseph’s erstwhile private garden provides a great setting for an initial encounter with the great man. The Burggarten in Vienna’s old town contains a statue of the monarch in typical dress – in his case, military uniform. Originally unveiled in front of a barracks, it later took up residence in the park on the Ringstrasse boulevard in 1957. The statue now stands just a stone’s throw from the Hofburg,where he ruled over the Habsburg empire for 68 years. Franz Joseph lived in the complex during the winter, and the former Imperial Apartmentsare open to visitors. Highlights include his study, his wife Elisabeth’s drawing room and bedroom, various salons and a positively antediluvian bathroom. Also located in the Hofburg, the Imperial Treasuries is a trove of priceless items including Emperor Rudolf II’s crown, which would later be adopted as the Austrian coronation crown.
Each summer Franz Joseph relocated his entire operation to Schönbrunn Palace– where he was born (1830), spent his dotage and died (1916). Passionate about nature, he was particularly fond of the Schlosspark where he would take regular walks. As a child Franz Joseph would spend countless hours in the park with his brothers, and is reputed to have learned to swim in a pool behind the obelisk fountain. He also visited the zoo regularly. Schönbrunn Palace has 1,441 rooms, 45 of which are open to the public. The Emperor’s offices and private apartments are simple and unadorned, while the staterooms and guest apartments are the epitome of opulence. The Imperial Coach Collectionat Schönbrunn Palace presents a huge range of examples of imperial transportation, from the larger-than-life imperial coach to more modest children’s sleighs.
Another related highlight, the Hofpavillon Hietzing can be found close to Schönbrunn Palace. Adorned with intricate Jugendstil (Austrian Art Nouveau) elements, the pavilion was actually a station designed by Otto Wagner for the Stadtbahn railway. Exclusively reserved for the monarch and his entourage, the imperial station building even contained a private study for the emperor. However, he only used his private station on a grand total of two occasions – today it is open to visitors. Anyone interested in finding out how the emperor really lived should head for the Vienna Furniture Museum. This unique museum contains furnishings from the royal and imperial households. The thousands of items covering some five centuries include an imperial travel throne and a prayer bench upholstered in velvet.
Other places with strong connections to the emperor include the Museum of Military Historywhich puts painting and uniforms from the Emperor’s day on display in the Franz-Joseph-Saal, and the Votive Churchwhich was built to thank God for saving the young Emperor’s life following a failed assassination attempt. Vienna’s Ringstrasseboulevard can also be seen as a symbol of his reign. In 1857 Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the fortifications surrounding Vienna’s city center to be demolished, and for a boulevard complete with showpiece buildings to be constructed on the grounds in front of the old walls and towers.
In-keeping with tradition, the “Old Man of Schönbrunn” was laid to rest in the Capuchin Crypt, which is the final resting place of members of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty. Since 1633 a total of 149 Habsburgs, including 12 emperors and 19 empresses and queens, have been buried in the crypt beneath the Kapuzinerkirche (Church of the Capuchin Friars). Franz Joseph was the last of the emperors to be buried here. The sarcophaguses containing the remains of his spouse Empress Elisabeth and Crown Prince Rudolf are also in the chamber.
Admission free for a person accompanying a blind visitor or a visitor in a wheelchair, provided
that the accompanying person is included in the ID.
Comments
Access to the exhibition rooms: elevator to the 1st floor, access to restaurant / café: 1 step.
Number of steps to the first floor (Imperial Apartments&Sisi Museum): 72
Additional information on the offer: Classic Pass: 29€ instead of 31€ (incl. audio guide) /
Sisi Ticket (Grand Tour / Schönbrunn Palace; Sisi Museum; Vienna Furniture Museum): 37€ instead of 40€ (incl. audio guide)
Parking spaces for people with disabilities
at main entrance portal (Schönbrunner Schlossstrasse, 3 parking spaces), Meidlinger Tor (2 parking spaces), close to Kavalierstrakt as well as Valerietrakt (2 parking spaces) and Fürstenstöckl (1 parking space)
Elevator available
Door 90 cm wide
Further information
Seeing eye dogs allowed
Wheelchair accessible restroom available.
Special offers for people with disabilities
Free wheelchair rental – contact attendant at main portal (3 wheelchairs) or at Hietzinger Tor and at Meidlinger Tor (1 wheelchair each).
Supplemental devices available for the visually impaired. Tours for visitors with with disabilities or special needs on request.
Museum Sign Language Guide available in ÖGS and IS for the Imperial or Grand Tour, prior reservation recommended, further information:
https://www.schoenbrunn.at/en/visitor-information/barrier-free-access/
Comments
Access to all exhibition rooms: no steps. Freight elevator for extra wide wheelchairs: door width: 160 cm, cabin depth: 220 cm, cabin width: 156 cm.
Visitors' center in the Gardetrakt by the main gate, stepless access, door width: approx. 144 cm, wheelchair-accessible restroom can be reached by wheelchair platform lift – platform 110/140 cm, door width: 90 cm in the corridor area and 94 cm to the outdoors, accessible from outside with a Euro-Key.
Special tours for people with special needs on request.
More information: kunstvermittlung@khm.at or Tel. +43 1 525 24-5202
Comments
Main entrance: steps (more than 3 cm), double doors (each 68 cm wide), entrance to the collection: double swinging doors, total width 130cm, exhibition area: flat floors, wheelchair-accessible. Second floor area reachable via steps (width 128 cm, 12 steps, landing, then 155 cm, 10 steps, handrail on both sides of the steps, 100 cm high). Restroom outside Coach Collection.
Additional information on the offer: Entrance per Person: 10,50 instead of 11,50 /
Sisi Ticket (Vienna Furniture Collection, Schönbrunn Palace, Sisi Museum & Imperial Apartments & Silver Collection) 37€ instead of 40€ with the Vienna City Card
Seeing-eye dogs permitted. Guided group tours for wheelchair users on request.
Comments
All areas accessible via elevator. Elevator 3rd-5th floor. Lifting platform to the first floor: door width: 83 cm, cabin depth: 117 cm, cabin width: 75 cm. Access to the restaurant / café: no steps.
