Danube River
It`s our second day in Vienna, Austria and our morning aboard the River Cloud began early today with our departure to Schonbrunn Palace. This graceful and colorful Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria, and since 1960 has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. Situated on the right bank of the river Wien, the castle was the summer residence of the Imperial family. In the possession of the Habsburg Dynasty since 1569, Schonbrunn was habitable until 1700 when part of the design jobs was finished, but it wasn’t until the Empress Maria Theresia ascended to the throne 1740 that the Schonbrunn Palace was expanded and redecorated in French Rococo style.
The palace was one of the favorite residences of the Empress Maria Theresia. In 1805, the castle was occupied by Napoleon, and from 1848-1916 it was a residence of the Emperor Franz Josef, who was born and died there. The majestic palace was surrendered to the Austrian Republic upon the abdication of the last Habsburg Emperor, Charles I in 1918.
The tour through the Royal residence couldn’t begin without a visit to the Imperial Court Bakery, where we tasted Emperor Franz Josef`s favorite dessert apfelstrudel. The palace has over 1400 rooms and others attractions like a zoo, a museum, a greenhouse, gardens, cafes, restaurants, and a theater where we stopped and enjoyed a delightful Marionette performance of Mozart`s Eine kleine Nacht Musik.
After that great presentation, part of the group returned to the ship for lunch and they had the afternoon off to explore Vienna. A small group of us had the opportunity to visit the Jugendstil Glasshouse called the Orangerie, on the Schonbrunn Palace too.
Many flowers and different species of orchids decorated the Palm House, where over 4000 different exotic plants are grown.
It`s our second day in Vienna, Austria and our morning aboard the River Cloud began early today with our departure to Schonbrunn Palace. This graceful and colorful Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria, and since 1960 has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. Situated on the right bank of the river Wien, the castle was the summer residence of the Imperial family. In the possession of the Habsburg Dynasty since 1569, Schonbrunn was habitable until 1700 when part of the design jobs was finished, but it wasn’t until the Empress Maria Theresia ascended to the throne 1740 that the Schonbrunn Palace was expanded and redecorated in French Rococo style.
The palace was one of the favorite residences of the Empress Maria Theresia. In 1805, the castle was occupied by Napoleon, and from 1848-1916 it was a residence of the Emperor Franz Josef, who was born and died there. The majestic palace was surrendered to the Austrian Republic upon the abdication of the last Habsburg Emperor, Charles I in 1918.
The tour through the Royal residence couldn’t begin without a visit to the Imperial Court Bakery, where we tasted Emperor Franz Josef`s favorite dessert apfelstrudel. The palace has over 1400 rooms and others attractions like a zoo, a museum, a greenhouse, gardens, cafes, restaurants, and a theater where we stopped and enjoyed a delightful Marionette performance of Mozart`s Eine kleine Nacht Musik.
After that great presentation, part of the group returned to the ship for lunch and they had the afternoon off to explore Vienna. A small group of us had the opportunity to visit the Jugendstil Glasshouse called the Orangerie, on the Schonbrunn Palace too.
Many flowers and different species of orchids decorated the Palm House, where over 4000 different exotic plants are grown.
