Tour of Schönbrunn Palace

This romantic tour of the imperial apartments which will take you on a journey through the centuries starts behind a massive door at the top of the Blue Staircase. It begins in the west wing of the palace, with the apartments of Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, Elisabeth, which are furnished in 19th-century style, and continues through the state rooms in the central wing. From there the tour proceeds to the richly-appointed apartments once occupied by Maria Theresa. The Franz Karl Apartments, which were occupied by Emperor Franz Joseph's parents, Archduchess Sophie and Archduke Franz Karl, conclude the tour.

On the ground floor are the Gisela Apartments, the Goess Apartments and the Crown Prince Apartments with their frescoes by Johann Bergl.

Schönbrunn Palace was not only an imperial residence and the setting for countless festivities, but also a place where famous artists and craftsmen from many different epochs created interiors of great beauty.

All the rooms in the palace have their own stories to tell, stories on the margins of great historical events which are indicative of the lifestyle, atmosphere and world view of the imperial era.