Located inside the Hofburg Palace, it preserves over a thousand years of European history through symbols of the power of the Habsburg dynasty and the Holy Roman Empire.

The collection is divided into several rooms, and the most important exhibits are:

• The Austrian Imperial Crown, created in 1602 as the crown of Emperor Rudolf II, a masterpiece of goldsmithing encrusted with diamonds, pearls, and 140 precious stones.

• The Crown of the Holy Roman Empire, unique for its octagonal shape, dating back to the 10th century, is the most important historical piece in the entire collection.

• The Holy Lance is one of the most famous religious relics in the world and, according to legend, contained a nail from the cross of Christ.

• The Treasury of the Order of the Golden Fleece is a collection of ceremonial robes and vestments associated with the prestigious order of chivalry.

• Other legendary objects on display include the cradle of Napoleon Franz Joseph, son of Napoleon Bonaparte and Marie Louise of Austria, an agate cup once believed to be the Holy Grail, and a narwhal tooth once mistaken for a unicorn’s horn.

Until the end of the 18th century, the historic insignia of the Holy Roman Empire (including the famous octagonal crown and the Holy Lance) were kept and protected in Nuremberg.

In 1796, the unstoppable advance of Napoleon Bonaparte’s troops put these age-old symbols at risk. To prevent them from falling into the hands of the French emperor, the treasure was secretly transferred to Vienna, where it found its final and current home.

With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy in 1918, the newly formed Republic of Austria confiscated the imperial assets, officially transforming the private collection into a national treasure accessible to the public.

In 1938, following the Anschluss (the annexation of Austria to Nazi Germany), Adolf Hitler ordered the forced transfer of the insignia of the Holy Roman Empire to Nuremberg for propaganda purposes.

The jewels were hidden in an underground bunker and miraculously survived the bombing of the city. In 1946, US occupation troops recovered the artifacts and permanently returned them to Austria.

Admission to the Imperial Treasury in Vienna is €18 for adults, while it is free for children under 19 (prices updated as of August 2026).

The Vienna Pass entitles you to completely free admission.

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The complex’s origins are linked to one of the most important military figures in Austrian history: Prince Eugene of Savoy, the commander of the imperial armies who defeated the Ottomans.

In 1697, Prince Eugene purchased a vast plot of land outside the city walls to serve as his summer residence.

The complex is divided into two sections: the Lower Belvedere (intended for residential use) was completed in 1716, while the Upper Belvedere (designed for ceremonial purposes and housing art collections) was finished in 1723.

The two main palaces are connected by terraced French-style gardens.

In 1752, Empress Maria Theresa of Austria purchased the complex, officially naming it “Belvedere” due to its magnificent view of the city.

In 1781, the Imperial Picture Gallery was relocated to the Upper Belvedere and the palace was opened to the public, becoming one of the very first museums in the world accessible to the general public.

Following the end of World War, I and the fall of the Habsburg monarchy in 1918, the Belvedere became the property of the Republic of Austria.

The complex was permanently transformed into a state museum dedicated to Austrian modern art.

On 15^th May 1955, the Belvedere Palace hosted the foreign ministers of the four occupying powers (the USA, USSR, United Kingdom, and France) and the Austrian government for the signing of the treaty that established Austria’s full independence and neutrality following World War II.

The permanent collection housed within the Upper Belvedere features internationally renowned works spanning from the Middle Ages to the 20^thcentury.

The Belvedere houses the world’s largest collection of paintings by Gustav Klimt, including the renowned “The Kiss”, “Judith I”, and the “Portrait of Fritza Riedler”.

Gustav Klimt’s “The Kiss” is the museum’s most important painting and also Austria’s most famous work of art.

Another significant section of the museum is dedicated to Austrian Expressionism, featuring works by Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.

The museum also displays works by Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Vincent van Gogh—such as “The Plain of Auvers”, painted during the artist’s final months.

Another highly famous painting in the museum is Jacques-Louis David’s “Napoleon Crossing the Alps”—one of the official versions of the legendary propaganda portrait depicting Napoleon Bonaparte astride a rearing steed, pointing toward the mountain peak.

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Its name derives from “Schöner Brunnen” (“beautiful spring”), a water source located near the palace.

From 1730 to 1918, it served as the summer residence of the Habsburg dynasty in Vienna.

The palace comprises 1.440 rooms, though only 45 are currently open to the public.

In the Middle Ages, the site was home to an agricultural estate owned by the Klosterneuburg Monastery, known as Katterburg.

In 1569, Emperor Maximilian II of Habsburg purchased the land to transform it into a hunting ground and wildlife park.

The first palace was built in 1642 but was completely destroyed in 1683 by Ottoman troops during the Second Siege of Vienna.

During the 18^th century, the palace was rebuilt in the Baroque style.

Schönbrunn took on its current form in the mid-18^th century under the reign of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, who made it the focal point of court life.

It was during this period that the Baroque gardens were laid out and the Gloriette and Neptune Fountain were constructed.

The palace was closely linked to Emperor Franz Joseph I, who was born at Schönbrunn in 1830 and spent much of his life there with his wife, Empress Sisi.

Between 1817 and 1819, the façade acquired the distinctive ochre hue known worldwide as “Schönbrunn Yellow.”

The halls of Schönbrunn Palace hosted the Congress of Vienna from 1814 to 1815, an event that redrew the map of Europe following the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars.

On 11^th November 1918, within the palace halls, Charles I—the last Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire—signed the document renouncing the throne, thereby bringing an end to the Habsburg monarchy and the Empire itself.

With the establishment of the Republic of Austria, the property passed to the State and was opened to the public, with all its rooms preserved intact.

There are two different ticket options for visiting Schönbrunn: the Palace Ticket and the State Apartments ticket.

Palace Ticket (€42 adults / €30 reduced) offers the most comprehensive tour of the palace, allowing visitors to see the private apartments of Franz Joseph and Sisi, the ceremonial halls, and the lavish Rococo rooms of Maria Theresa.

The State Apartments ticket (€30 adults / €20 reduced) covers a shorter route, focusing primarily on the monarchy’s ceremonial halls and state apartments.

The Vienna Pass grants free entry—subject to a scheduled time slot—to the standard State Apartments tour, as well as to the Gloriette and the zoo.

All admission tickets include a free audio guide and require entry at a specific, fixed time.

The palace gardens are also home to Tiergarten Schönbrunn, the world’s oldest zoo, which opened in 1752.

Access to the surrounding Baroque Park is free year-round; however, certain attractions within the grounds—such as the Gloriette and the zoo—require a separate ticket or a combined pass.

The Imperial Carriage Museum is also located within the Schönbrunn Palace complex (dedicated article).

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The complex is one of the United Nations’ four official headquarters worldwide, alongside New York, Geneva, and Nairobi.

Following the end of World War II and the subsequent Allied occupation, Austria regained full sovereignty in 1955 and declared its permanent neutrality.

This strategic position made Vienna an ideal diplomatic bridge and a buffer zone between the Western and Soviet blocs during the Cold War.

Construction began in 1973 and was completed in 1979. The costs were covered 65% by the Austrian state and 35% by the City of Vienna.

It employs approximately 5,000 staff members and houses international organizations such as:

• IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency): an autonomous agency that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and monitors against military proliferation.

• UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime): a UN office dedicated to the fight against drugs, international organized crime, corruption, and terrorism.

• UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization): a specialized agency that supports sustainable industrial development, economic competitiveness, and environmental protection in partner countries.

• CTBTO PrepCom (Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization): a preparatory organization established to implement the global monitoring system banning nuclear tests on land, in the atmosphere, and underwater.

Visits are possible only via official guided tours lasting approximately one hour.

The guided tour includes institutional areas and conference rooms.

The Rotunda, or Central Plaza, is the architectural centerpiece of the complex; it features a square displaying the flags of all United Nations member states.

Inside the complex, there is a space exhibition featuring scale models of satellites and space rockets, the signature of Yuri Gagarin—the first man in space—and an authentic fragment of moon rock donated by NASA.

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They are recognized for their richness, elegance, and historical connection to the Viennese coffeehouse tradition.

Apfelstrudel and Sachertorte are among the most famous and cherished Austrian desserts.

Apfelstrudel is the traditional apple strudel. It is made of a very thin pastry (rolled by hand) enclosing a filling of spiced apples, cinnamon, raisins, and breadcrumbs toasted in butter. In Vienna, it is traditionally said that the pastry should be so thin that a love letter can be read through it.

Sachertorte is the most famous Austrian dessert of all. It is a dense chocolate cake filled with a thin layer of apricot jam and topped with a smooth dark chocolate glaze. It is always served with unsweetened whipped cream.

Café Sacher is located in the center of Vienna and is one of the most famous historical institutions in the world, famous for guarding and serving the authentic and original Sachertorte recipe.

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The museum is located within the Hofburg Palace complex, the Habsburgs’ former winter imperial residence.

It is divided into two main sections: the Sisi Museum and the Imperial Apartments.

Sisi Museum

The museum houses over 300 original personal items, including famous dresses, parasols, fans, and her personal travel medicine chest.

First section explores how the “Sisi myth” emerged after her death; her original death mask and death certificate are on display here.

The museum features faithful reconstructions of her most famous outfits, including the lavish gown worn the night before her wedding and the dress worn for her coronation as Queen of Hungary in 1867.

One section is dedicated to mourning jewelry; following the suicide of her son Rudolf, Sisi dressed exclusively in black.

The museum also houses a reconstruction of the luxurious royal railway carriage she used to travel across Europe to escape the rigid etiquette of the court.

Imperial Apartments (Kaiserappartements)

The historic rooms where Sisi and Emperor Franz Joseph lived offer a detailed look at daily life and the atmosphere of the court.

The tour includes the emperor’s study, Sisi’s exercise room, her bedroom, and reception rooms furnished in the Rococo style, complete with tiled stoves and crystal chandeliers.

Elisabeth of Bavaria, commonly known as Sisi, was one of the most iconic historical figures of the 19th century, becoming Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary following her marriage to Emperor Franz Joseph I.

Born in Munich in 1837, she married Franz Joseph at the age of just 16, finding herself thrust into the rigid Viennese court—an environment that caused her deep unhappiness and melancholy throughout her life.

She was renowned for her charisma and her obsessive attention to her physical appearance.

Her life was marked by profound personal tragedies, including the suicide of her son, Rudolf. She was assassinated in Geneva on September 10, 1898, by the Italian anarchist Luigi Lucheni.

Empress Sisi’s tomb is located within the Imperial Crypt in Vienna (see dedicated article).

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