Using - Maintaining - Financing

Schloss Schönbrunn seeks to offer its visitors a contemporary range of cultural and leisure facilities. At the same time, however, these must be entirely in harmony with the historical ambience. Central importance is thus attached to making full use of existing infrastructure and resources.

Maintaining

The primary object of Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. is the preservation of all structures and their features, both interior and exterior, in harmony with cultural and touristic use, as well as the necessary redevelopment and restoration work required to preserve the whole of the Schönbrunn complex, a unique entity in art-historical and historico-cultural terms. The tasks falling within this object are enshrined in law and must be performed according to the highest curatorial standards.

Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. is also now embarking on renovation work to the Imperial Apartments at the Hofburg, which had initially been impossible for contractual reasons but which may now be undertaken within the closely defined framework of company's lease arrangements. In addition the "Sisi Museum" as part of the Imperial Apartments has been opened in April 2004.

Even through the early years of its existence, the activities of Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. have had a marked revitalizing impact. The entire investment programme, at a cost of about 73 million Euros, is scheduled over a period of ten years.

The enormous quantity of funds needed for the renovation work has been yielded from the outset through a varied package of measures. Entrance charges, for instance, have been significantly increased, but at the same time, the range of facilities on offer has been diversified. Higher income from the sale of souvenirs and catering operations has also contributed to the increase in revenue, as has the imposition of commercial levels of rent and other charges for special events. Ultimately, these activities, coupled with a rationalization of internal procedures, have led to an increase in net product per employee.