Schonbrunn Palace, Vienna (must see)

Schönbrunn Palace, also known as Schloss Schönbrunn in German, used to be the primary summer residence for the Habsburg monarchs. Its name, Schönbrunn, which means "beautiful spring" in English, comes from a well that used to be on the property and provided water to the royal court.

The palace has a rich history spanning over 300 years and reflects the changing tastes and interests of the Habsburg dynasty. It took its present form during the 1740s and 1750s under the rule of Empress Maria Theresa, who received it as a wedding gift. The neoclassical exterior we see today was the result of renovations ordered by Franz I.

Franz Joseph, the longest-reigning emperor of Austria, was born at Schönbrunn and spent most of his life there. He passed away in the palace on November 21, 1916, at the age of 86. After the Habsburg monarchy fell in November 1918, the palace became property of the newly-established Austrian Republic and was preserved as a museum.

During World War II and the Allied Occupation of Austria from 1945 to 1955, Schönbrunn was used as office space for the British Delegation to the Allied Commission for Austria and the headquarters of the British Military Garrison in Vienna. It returned to its museum status when the Austrian republic was re-established in 1955. Occasionally, it's still used for important events, like the meeting between U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1961.

A significant part of the palace grounds is occupied by gardens, including the French and English gardens in the western section. You can also find the Ruin of Carthage, a Roman-style feature added in 1778, which includes a rectangular pool with a massive arch and stone fragments symbolizing the rivers Vltava and Elbe.

Schönbrunn, with its impressive Baroque architecture and gardens, earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1996. Along with attractions like the Tiergarten Schönbrunn (Schönbrunn Zoo), Palmenhaus (a greenhouse with exotic plants), Wüstenhaus (a desert botanical exhibit), the Wagenburg (The Imperial Carriage Museum), and the Schoenbrunn Palace Concerts (an annual summer concert series on the grounds), the entire complex is a vital part of Vienna's architectural, cultural, and historical heritage and draws over five million visitors each year.