As hard as it is to believe, the spectacular Schonbrunn Palace was originally begun as a hunting lodge and retreat. Leopold I, Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, purchased a small existing manor, called Katterburg, because it was close to Vienna and offered good hunting. The lodge turned out to be too small. After Leopold’s death, the name was changed and the palace was expanded, by Empress Maria Theresa, to it’s current 1441 rooms. The Habsburgs were not Schonbrunn’s only inhabitants. Napoleon lived there for a time. The British used it for offices after WWII. Today, Schonbrunn is a national shrine and a UNESCO World Heritage site. There is even a suite available for private rental. If you have to ask what the rent is, believe me, you can’t afford it.
Public transportation is the easiest, fastest, and most inexpensive way to get to Schonbrunn. Guided tours are available, but not really necessary. If you are not able or don’t want to walk the extensive grounds, the little tourist train acts as a hop on and off. It is reasonably priced. We enjoyed it.
