View Upper and Lower Belvedere Palace Vienna, Wien Virtual Tour
Discover Arounder Wien, Vienna Virtual Tour
The Belvedere is a baroque palace complex built by Prince Eugene of Savoy in the 3rd district of Vienna, south-east of the city centre.
After buying the plot of land in 1697, Prince Eugene had a large park created. The Schloss Belvedere began as a suburban entertainment villa: in 1714 work began to erect what is now called the Lower Belvedere, not as a palace but as a garden villa, with an orangerie and paintings gallery, with suitable living quarters. The architect was Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, one of the most important architects of the Austrian Baroque, who produced in the complex of buildings his masterwork.
In 1720-1723, the Upper Belvedere was built, originally intended simply to provide a suitable end to the main garden axis. The architect was again Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt. Once again there is a central Marmorsaal—the site of the signing of the Austrian State Treaty, that formed modern Austria, May 15, 1955—but the Schloss was soon enlarged to provide the main summer residence of Prince Eugene. Its painted ceilings are by Carlo Carlone, with an altarpiece in the chapel by Francesco Solimena.
The complex was sold in 1752 to Maria Theresa by the prince’s heiress. Maria Theresa first named the Schloss “Belvedere”. Under the Habsburgs it was further extended. Since 1775, the Belvedere has housed the imperial picture gallery on behalf of Joseph II, and in 1806 the collection of Ambras Palace was moved to the Lower Belvedere as well. Both were transferred to the Museum of Art History (Kunsthistorisches Museum) in 1890. The last to reside here was Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Since World War I, the Austrian Gallery museum resides in the Belvedere.
The building suffered heavy damage during World War II. The Gold Cabinet burnt out and had to be reconstructed.
The building is currently being given a facelift, with the beautiful restored garden already finished. The work is scheduled to be complete by 2008.
Please click links below to open interactive panoramas:
Upper Belvedere – main view
Lower Belvedere – Goldkabinett
Lower Belvedere – Grotesksal
Lower Belvedere – Marmorgallerie
Lower Belvedere – Marmorsal
