Schönbrunn. ☀️
The summer residence. 1,441 rooms painted in "Maria Theresa Yellow." Mozart played here as a six-year-old child prodigy (and jumped into the Empress's lap).
The Gloriette
Hike up the hill through the gardens to the Gloriette arch. It was built just for the view (and to glorify Habsburg power). It is the best photo spot in Vienna.
The Gardens
The park is free. You can wander for hours through the hedge mazes, fake Roman ruins, and the oldest zoo in the world (Tiergarten Schönbrunn).
The Hofburg. ❄️
This massive complex grew over centuries. It houses the President's office, the National Library, and the famous Spanish Riding School.
Lipizzaners
The Spanish Riding School performs here. White stallions dance to classical music in a baroque hall under crystal chandeliers. It is surreal perfection.
Imperial Treasury
The Schatzkammer. See the actual crown of the Holy Roman Empire (dating from the 10th century) and a "unicorn horn" (narwhal tusk).
National Library
The Prunksaal (State Hall) is the most beautiful library room on earth. Walnut bookshelves, gold statues, and frescoes. It smells of old paper and history.
Empress Elisabeth
The Reluctant Royal
The Cult of Sisi. 💔
She was the Diana of the 19th century. Beautiful, obsessed with her weight, unhappy, and ultimately assassinated.
The Gymnastics:
In her private apartments, you will see her wooden gymnastics rings and pull-up bar. She exercised obsessively to maintain a 50cm (19 inch) waist. It is a glimpse into her personal struggle.
The Imperial Crypt. ⚰️
Beneath a modest church lies the final resting place of 150 Habsburgs. It is metallic, cold, and overwhelmingly grand.
Maria Theresa
Her sarcophagus is enormous—a double bed of bronze where she lies facing her husband. It sits under a dome, dominating the room.
The Monk Ritual
When a Habsburg is buried, the coffin knocks 3 times. The monk asks "Who is there?" The titles are read. The monk refuses entry. Only when the voice says "A mortal, sinful human being" do the doors open.