Schloss Schönbrunn, Vienna

Schönbrunn Palace is the former summer retreat of the Habsburg rulers, and its Baroque architecture gives this vast residence a ceremonial presence. The complex began under Emperor Leopold I, with Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach directing the early work; Maria Theresa later had Nikolaus von Pacassi bring the palace and grounds to completion. The rooms include the Bergl Rooms, the Great Gallery, the Vieux-Laque Room, a palace chapel, and a palace theatre.

The estate extends into a park with the Neptune Fountain, the Gloriette, and the Beautiful Spring that supplied the palace its name. As local tradition has it, Emperor Matthias discovered an artesian spring here during a hunt and praised its beauty; the spring is now marked by the Beautiful Spring in the park. Schönbrunn and its gardens entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996 as an outstanding artistic ensemble. As you take in the façade, the long, balanced arrangement makes clear that this was designed for court life on a grand scale.