SCHONBRUNN Tour Of The Apartments Of Maria Theresa And Francis I

2:30

The first room in the imperial apartment of Maria Theresa and Francis I is the Blue Chinese Salon, named after the yellow wall coverings with blue medallions in Chinese motifs. This was the emperor's original council chamber, while the later Vieux-Laque Room was his study. After the sudden death of Francis I, the study was transformed by his devoted wife into a memorial room, decorated with black lacquered panels from Beijing.

Among the rooms that follow, you’ll find the Napoleon Room, the former bedroom of the imperial couple, where the general resided during the two occupations of Vienna, and the Porcelain Room, the empress's study, lined with carved wood paneling, painted in white and blue, in imitation of porcelain.

You will also pass through the sumptuous Millions Room, whose name is a reference to the opulence of the materials used, such as the fine pink wood on the walls where Indo-Persian miniatures are embedded.

Now press pause, and press play again when you come to the striking Gobelin Salon, where you can admire the fine textile artworks from Brussels, that cover the walls and armchairs, depicting the twelve months of the year and the signs of the zodiac. After this, move on to the Archduchess Sophie's Study: this was originally Maria Theresa's library, as evidenced by the compartments behind the flap paneling where the bookshelves are located.

 

 

The next room you will come to is the Red Salon, from the color of the damask fabric covering the room, followed by the Eastern Terrace Cabinet, where the frescoes blend ingeniously with the structure of the vault.

Now press pause, and press play again when you reach the Rich Room.

 

The room is dominated by the magnificent bed made for the imperial wedding of Maria Theresa and Francis I, celebrated in 1736. It was originally located in the Hofburg residence. After years of neglect, in 1980 the couple’s bed was finally reassembled here in this castle, where protected by a glass case, it can now be admired once more as a symbol of an imperial marriage.

 

An interesting fact: Maria Theresa's love for her husband was so intense that a sheet of paper was found in her prayer book detailing all the happy moments of her marriage, even counting them in hours!

 

TravelMate recommends
Choose the option
that suits you best
Buy Vienna
Permanently unlock the app with all content of Vienna for
€ 8,99
Buy
Promotion
Unlock audio content of all available cities for 3 years at the promotional price
€ 19,99
Buy
Da non perdere
VIENNA INTRODUCTION
2 Audio

VIENNA INTRODUCTION

Initially a simple military encampment, it slowly became a thriving medieval city, thanks to its privileged location in the center of the trade routes in Europe. The peak of the city’s...
THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE
1 Audio

THE WONDERS OF LOCAL CUISINE

You can try these and many other specialties in a variety of eateries, from Spezialitaten Restaurant to Café-Restaurant. If you’re visiting the city in the summer, I recommend a visit to...
STEPHANSDOM
3 Audio

STEPHANSDOM

The cathedral stands on Stephansplatz, a busy, lively square with a predominantly modern character, as several buildings are quite recent. The whole area was heavily bombed during World War II, and...
HOFBURG
7 Audio

HOFBURG

Each new emperor wanted to leave his mark on the complex, which consists of 18 different buildings, arranged around 16 courtyards, which also incorporate two churches and house several important...
MARIA-THERESIEN-PLATZ
1 Audio

MARIA-THERESIEN-PLATZ

When the competition for the construction of this ring road was announced in 1858, as many as 500 different firms of architects entered, from all over the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but only 85 were...
KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM
7 Audio

KUNSTHISTORISCHES MUSEUM

The museum was opened in 1891, after lengthy construction work, due especially to the lavish decoration. The interior is replete with fine marble and decorative frescoes, in which the painter Gustav...
BELVEDERE
4 Audio

BELVEDERE

A palace, a garden, a villa... the Belvedere in Vienna is all of these things: an innovative building that marked a significant turning point in 18th-century European stately architecture. It was the...
VIENNA STATE OPERA
2 Audio

VIENNA STATE OPERA

Although today it is one of the most famous opera houses in the world, it was not well received initially by the Viennese, who, even during its construction, criticized its complete lack of style,...
SCHONBRUNN
7 Audio

SCHONBRUNN

It was originally a hunting estate, which was purchased by Emperor Maximilian II in 1569. After it was devastated by the Turks during the second siege of Vienna, Leopold I decided to entrust it to the...
VOLKSGARTEN
1 Audio

VOLKSGARTEN

It was originally designed on the remains of fortifications that Napoleon had demolished during the 1809 occupation of Vienna. Later, at the end of the nineteenth century, when the Ring was built, it...
PARLIAMENT AND RATHAUS
1 Audio

PARLIAMENT AND RATHAUS

It is located along the Karl Renner Ring, directly across from the Volksgarten, in the section of the avenue that offers the most eloquent image of the eclectic-celebratory style that spread...
PRATER
2 Audio

PRATER

The name "prater" generally refers to the famous amusement park whose full name is Wurstelprater, dominated by one of the best-known symbols of the Austrian capital: the huge Ferris wheel of...
SECESSION BUILDING
1 Audio

SECESSION BUILDING

At the end of the 19th century, Vienna rivalled Paris as the capital of culture and research. However, a group of young artists believed there was a need for the arts to move on from the eclectic and...
KARLSKIRCHE
1 Audio

KARLSKIRCHE

Having averted the danger of the Turkish siege of 1683, and thanks to the victorious military campaigns led by Prince Eugene of Savoy, Vienna also confirmed its historic role as the capital of the...
ALBERTINA MUSEUM
1 Audio

ALBERTINA MUSEUM

Built on a bastion of the city walls, the Albertina is located at the far end of the Hofburg, the imperial palace. Because of its particular elevated position and the prestige of the graphic art...
MUSEUMSQUARTIER
2 Audio

MUSEUMSQUARTIER

Between 1998 and 2001, the former imperial stables, previously used as an exhibition center, were transformed into a magnificent art gallery dedicated to works from the 20th and 21st centuries. The...
TravelMate App
DOWNLOAD NOW
THE TRAVELMATE APP
Purchase your activation code, download the TravelMate App, and turn your smartphone into your personal travel companion!
Listen to audio guides about the wonders of the world with TravelMate.
HAVE FUN!