Belvedere Palace, Vienna (must see)
Originally designed as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, who apparently felt a standard palace simply wouldn't cut it, this lavish complex was built after Vienna stopped fending off Ottoman invasions and started flexing its imperial muscles in stone, stucco, and cascading fountains.
The Belvedere isn鈥檛 just one palace鈥攊t鈥檚 a full-on ensemble performance: Upper and Lower Belvedere, an Orangery for your fancy citrus needs, and palace stables fit for horses with noble bloodlines. All of it is wrapped in a park so meticulously designed, you鈥檇 think every hedge was hand-trimmed by a powdered wig.
Construction kicked off in 1712 with the Lower Belvedere, but things really got dramatic in 1717 when the Upper Belvedere was added鈥攂asically a Baroque ballroom with serious diplomatic swagger. Frescoes, gilded ceilings, and artwork by the who鈥檚 who of 18th-century painters helped Eugene throw parties that whispered, 鈥渆mpire鈥� with every flute of champagne.
After Prince Eugene passed in 1736, the place got a second act as a Habsburg hangout, hosting royal refugees escaping the French Revolution and later transforming into one of Europe鈥檚 earliest public museums, thanks to Maria Theresa and Joseph II.
Fast forward to the 20th century: the Belvedere went national after World War I, becoming the proud home of Austria鈥檚 classical and modern art collections. World War II wasn鈥檛 kind to it鈥攂ombings left their mark鈥攂ut meticulous restoration from 1945 through the '90s brought the glory back, detail by plastered detail.
Today, the Belvedere is a major world-class museum. Its galleries span centuries, from medieval devotionals to cutting-edge modernism. And yes, Gustav Klimt鈥檚 "The Kiss" lives here too, alongside his equally iconic "Judith." You鈥檒l also find a respectable crowd of French Impressionists and Biedermeier charmers holding court on the walls.
It's in equal measure for those who appreciate architecture, arts, or just seek to pretend they鈥檙e 18th-century nobility strolling through your summer garden... The Belvedere delivers all of this with a flourish. So go ahead鈥攚ander, gaze, and maybe channel your inner prince or princess.
Tip:
If you don鈥檛 enjoy queuing in the sun, grab your tickets online. And for the love of Baroque opulence, don鈥檛 skip the gardens鈥攖hose cascading fountains and smug statues have been waiting centuries for your admiration...
The Belvedere isn鈥檛 just one palace鈥攊t鈥檚 a full-on ensemble performance: Upper and Lower Belvedere, an Orangery for your fancy citrus needs, and palace stables fit for horses with noble bloodlines. All of it is wrapped in a park so meticulously designed, you鈥檇 think every hedge was hand-trimmed by a powdered wig.
Construction kicked off in 1712 with the Lower Belvedere, but things really got dramatic in 1717 when the Upper Belvedere was added鈥攂asically a Baroque ballroom with serious diplomatic swagger. Frescoes, gilded ceilings, and artwork by the who鈥檚 who of 18th-century painters helped Eugene throw parties that whispered, 鈥渆mpire鈥� with every flute of champagne.
After Prince Eugene passed in 1736, the place got a second act as a Habsburg hangout, hosting royal refugees escaping the French Revolution and later transforming into one of Europe鈥檚 earliest public museums, thanks to Maria Theresa and Joseph II.
Fast forward to the 20th century: the Belvedere went national after World War I, becoming the proud home of Austria鈥檚 classical and modern art collections. World War II wasn鈥檛 kind to it鈥攂ombings left their mark鈥攂ut meticulous restoration from 1945 through the '90s brought the glory back, detail by plastered detail.
Today, the Belvedere is a major world-class museum. Its galleries span centuries, from medieval devotionals to cutting-edge modernism. And yes, Gustav Klimt鈥檚 "The Kiss" lives here too, alongside his equally iconic "Judith." You鈥檒l also find a respectable crowd of French Impressionists and Biedermeier charmers holding court on the walls.
It's in equal measure for those who appreciate architecture, arts, or just seek to pretend they鈥檙e 18th-century nobility strolling through your summer garden... The Belvedere delivers all of this with a flourish. So go ahead鈥攚ander, gaze, and maybe channel your inner prince or princess.
Tip:
If you don鈥檛 enjoy queuing in the sun, grab your tickets online. And for the love of Baroque opulence, don鈥檛 skip the gardens鈥攖hose cascading fountains and smug statues have been waiting centuries for your admiration...
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Vienna. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Belvedere Palace on Map
Sight Name: Belvedere Palace
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Vienna, Austria (See walking tours in Vienna)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Vienna, Austria
Create Your Own Walk in Vienna
Creating your own self-guided walk in Vienna is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Vienna Introduction Walking Tour
A city of green parks, opulent architecture, elegant shopping, crowded theaters, and boulevards for leisurely sauntering 鈥� Vienna, the capital of Austria, embodies a blend of regal tradition and contemporary vibrancy. The origin of the city's name is rooted in Roman times, stemming from the Celtic word Vedunia, meaning 鈥渇orest stream鈥�, which later evolved into Vindobona, a Roman... view more
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.6 Km or 2.9 Miles
Klimt Paintings Tour
"I have the gift of neither the spoken nor the written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. Whoever wants to know something about me - as an artist, the only notable thing - ought to look carefully at my pictures" 鈥� Gustav Klimt.
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Klimt's name is indelibly linked to Vienna. The renowned symbolist painter was a prominent figure in the city. As a... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Vienna's Art Nouveau Architecture Tour II
If there are cities that flirt, Vienna is definitely the one. Here, even the buildings know how to do it.
Around the turn of the 20th century, the Austrian capital caught the Art Nouveau fever and decided that straight lines, drab walls, and historical imitation simply wouldn鈥檛 do anymore. Instead, it took to ornamental swirls, flowing curves, floral flourishes, and enough decorative detail... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Around the turn of the 20th century, the Austrian capital caught the Art Nouveau fever and decided that straight lines, drab walls, and historical imitation simply wouldn鈥檛 do anymore. Instead, it took to ornamental swirls, flowing curves, floral flourishes, and enough decorative detail... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Johann Strauss Walking Tour
Throughout the entire 19th century, Vienna was a hub of cultural and musical activity, particularly in the realm of classical music, to which Johann Strauss and his father, Johann Strauss Sr., contributed greatly.
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Strauss, the son had a personal connection with Vienna deeply rooted in its cultural fabric. Not only was he born here and spent most of his life, but also he achieved tremendous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Famous Homes of Vienna
Throughout centuries, the Austrian capital has been home to numerous famous individuals, from creative people of arts to thinkers, scientists, and politicians. Vienna's illustrious history is closely intertwined with the abodes of its celebrated residents, where artistic virtuosos and luminaries of their time found solace and inspiration.
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
The often modest apartments of Vienna's famous... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.9 Km or 2.4 Miles
Old Town Chocolate Stores
Vienna is famous for its love for sweet indulgence. And when it comes to chocolate, it stands tall among other locally-made mouth-watering confections.
Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Vienna's chocolate scene is deeply rooted in a rich culinary tradition. It has been sustained by several historic chocolate houses, located in the Old Town, that have been serving decadent treats for generations.
Landmark... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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