Hellbrunn

Introducing Hellbrunn

An archbishop with a wicked sense of humour, Markus Sittikus built the yellow-painted Schloss Hellbrunn (82 03 72-0; www.hellbrunn.at; Fürstenweg 37; adult/child/family €8.50/3.80/21.50; 9am-4.30pm Apr & Oct, 9am-5.30pm May & Jun, 9am-10pm Jul & Aug) in the 17th century as a pleasure palace and an escape vault from his functions at Residenz. The Italianate villa became a wild retreat for rulers of state who flocked here to eat, drink and generally be merry. It was a Garden of Eden to all who beheld its exotic fauna, citrus trees and trick fountains – designed to sober up quaffing clerics without dampening their spirits. Domenico Gisberti, poet to the court of Munich, once penned: ‘I see the epitome of Venice in these waters, Rome reduced to a brief outline.’

Today, Hellbrunn attracts the giggling tourist masses in summer; most are here for the fabulously eccentric Wasserspiele (trick fountains). Be prepared to get very wet as you wander past stone lions, cherubs and statues that drench you with water when you least expect it. For a right good soaking, step inside the mother-of-pearl Neptune Grotto or gaze up to admire the 200 limewood figurines at the water-driven Mechanical Theatre. Tours run every 30 minutes. To lose the crowds, take a stroll along the broad oak-lined avenues in the glorious Schloss gardens; these are open year-round till dusk.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009