Schönbrunn Palace | Vienna | © Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. | Foto: A.E. Koller Schönbrunn Palace | Vienna | © Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. | Foto: A.E. Koller
Window view to the Gloriette | Schloss Schönbrunn Grand Suite in Vienna

History

Seemingly invisible to the thousands of tourists that visit Schönbrunn each year, around 400 people currently call the 90,000m² palace complex home. They live in the luxurious apartments and smaller studios which were once built for members of the imperial household and their staff.

The suite was carefully restored in 2013 in line with the apartment's status as part of a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. Equipped with modern fixtures and finishings, the exclusive spaces exude comfort at every turn. Our guests should feel like living in a Castle - as original as possible and with high hotel standard.

Countless members of the imperial court took up residence in the palace during the days of the monarchy, including Empress Maria Theresia and the Red Archduchess Elisabeth Marie – the only child of Crown Prince Rudolf and the favourite granddaughter of Emperor Franz Joseph. In fact, the latter was born in the palace. And later he made
Schönbrunn his home, alongside his wife Empress Elisabeth, who is more commonly known as Sisi.

The Red Archduchesses' chambers

This appartment was home to one of the Habsburg dynasty's most unusual archduchesses, whose life story reads like something from the pages of a gripping novel. The only daughter of Crown Prince Rudolf and princess Stephanie of Belgium, Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria was welcomed to the world by canon salutes and joyful parades in the heart of the Austro-Hungarian empire. 

Her grandfather and godfather was none other than his Majesty Emeror Franz Joseph. Known to the family as Erzsi (the Hungarian form of Elisabeth), she was named after her legerndarily beautiful grandmother Sisi.

“It is widely believed that the ‘Red Archduchess’, Elisabeth Petznek, the daughter of Crown Prince Rudolf slept
in this part of the palace towards the end of the monarchy.”

MAG. dR. Franz sattlecker, Managing director of Schloss Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H.