Gardens

Lonely Planet review

The beautiful French-style formal gardens of the palace, opened to the public by Joseph II in 1779, hide a number of attractions in their tree-lined avenues: fake Roman ruins in 1778, the Neptunbrunnen (Neptune Fountain), a riotous ensemble from Greek mythology, in 1781, and the crowning Gloriette, which offers a breathtaking view. There's also a 630m-long hedge Maze and a playground.

The view from the Gloriette back towards the palace with Vienna in the distance ranks among the best in the city. It's possible to venture onto its roof, but the view is only marginally superior. The original Schöner Brunnen, from which the palace gained its name, now pours through the stone pitcher of a nymph near the Roman ruins. The maze (open Apr-Oct) is a classic hedge design based on the original maze that occupied its place from 1720 to 1892; next door is the Labyrinth, a new playground with games, climbing equipment and a giant mirror kaleidoscope. To the east of the palace is the Privy Garden, a replica of the Baroque garden that occupied the space around 1750. Its colourful twirls of yellow and red sand, with Schönbrunn's west wing in the background, make a lovely holiday snapshot.