Where is the Belvedere? Palace and park complex Belvedere in Vienna. Historical past and interesting myths

For an outstanding military leader - a worthy place to live. Only this justifies the scale inherent in the construction of such a luxurious complex of buildings for the commander Eugene of Savoy. Today, this palace complex is one of the most famous and popular attractions in Vienna, the prototype of which is Versailles.

Museums and palaces of the Belvedere (map)

1. Upper Belvedere - permanent exhibition (Gustav Klimpt).
2. Lower Belvedere - temporary exhibitions.
3. The greenhouse is a modern exhibition hall.
4. Stables - works of art of the Middle Ages and Baroque are stored here.
5. The research center is a repository of Austrian art from the 14th to the 21st century (collections, libraries, archives).

Gardens and parks of the Belvedere (diagram)

The Belvedere Gardens are a gem of baroque landscape architecture.

1. The main (botanical) garden.
2. Chamber garden.
3. Alpine garden.

History of the palace complex

Indeed, Eugene of Savoy was one of the outstanding representatives of his era in the military sphere. It was under his leadership that the troops of the Holy Roman Empire drove the Turkish army out of Europe, successfully beat the enemy on the battlefields in wars related to the inheritance of the Polish and Spanish crowns, seemingly invincible fortresses fell at his feet.

Naturally, the generalissimo was fabulously rich. In this regard, it is not surprising that we have the opportunity to get acquainted with at least several palaces built in the Baroque style at his expense.

The most famous is located in Vienna, called the Belvedere, this is not just a grandiose palace, it is a whole historical object that has absorbed two palace buildings, a greenhouse, a couple of fountains, sculptures and noble stables.

Construction began in an era when the capital of Austria was the center of the Holy Roman Empire, and Prince Eugene reaped the fruits of victories in Turkish epics.

On the wave of his popularity, he buys land, because he can, and by the beginning of the 18th century, work will begin on the first palace, the so-called Lower Belvedere. The well-known architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt will head the work process.

Gradually, work is underway to decorate the central hall, the ceilings are decorated with paintings. The plan also included living quarters for the prince. The French royal family, who fled from the revolution that broke out in Paris, would subsequently settle here.

At this point in the Lower Belvedere, it is necessary to take a look at the gallery, the numerous halls, and the painting. At the beginning of the 18th century, the construction of the Upper Belvedere will begin, and work will be completed after 6 years.

The palace complex is an example of the genius Hildebrandt's own handwriting. You can feel the mastery and harmony in all parts of the architectural ensemble, which, by the way, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The structure is so wonderful that even in the process of work on it, a solemn magnificent reception of the Turkish diplomat was arranged there.

Belvedere today

Nowadays, the two palaces Upper and Lower Belvedere are within walking distance from each other. They are separated by a park laid out according to the plan of the then famous Bavarian park designer Dominique Gerard. And these are cascades of fountains, grottoes, intricately trimmed shrubs and flower beds. Plus, there are magical landscapes, beautiful gardens in the French style, and walking along the paths, guests come across unique sculptures.

Now the palaces house museums and the Austrian Gallery. The event that served as a catalyst for this process was the sale of the Belvedere to ex-duchess Maria Theresa. Subsequently, she organizes an exposition in the upper building, an art gallery, opening the public access to it.

In the Upper Belvedere there are permanent exhibitions, the main highlight of which is the collection of paintings by Klimt with his famous "Kiss".

In principle, the Upper Belvedere is one of the oldest museums on the planet. The works of outstanding Austrian painters since the Middle Ages, such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Max Beckmann, for example, are exhibited there. These names speak for themselves.

The Lower Belvedere mainly hosts temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. The Lower Belvedere includes the Orangery and the stables.

While in Vienna, you should definitely touch this beauty, Savoysky had an aesthetic taste, and outstanding architects and artists worked on the palace complex, you just need to pay attention to the facades of the building, the interior, and the paintings on the walls and ceilings with Italian style.

The interior decoration of the palace corresponds to the external impressions - magnificent furniture, magical ceiling paintings, sparkling crystal, gilding, brilliance of stones.

After the feeling of beauty fills you from head to toe, it's time to take a walk in the park, in the shade of trees and amazing statues installed here everywhere. And do not forget an umbrella, the weather in Vienna is extremely changeable.

The Belvedere is not only a magnificent Baroque palace, but also a place where Austria's most valuable art collections are stored - with the main works of Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka.

Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736), a renowned military leader and connoisseur of art, entrusted Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt with the construction of his summer residence, the Belvedere Palace and Park, which was then located outside the city limits.

This Baroque masterpiece consists of two palaces (Upper and Lower Belvedere), which today houses a collection of Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day.

Upper Belvedere - the world's largest collection of works by Klimt and The Kiss

The basis of the Belvedere collection is 24 paintings by Gustav Klimt, including his gold works "The Kiss" and "Judith". Klimt's The Kiss is world-famous. The 180 x 180 cm painting was created in 1908/09. and depicts Klimt and his girlfriend Emilia Flöge as a couple in love. "The Kiss" is perhaps the most famous work of art in Austria. In addition, the portraits of women created by Klimt, which can also be admired in the Upper Belvedere, make a great impression.

The permanent exhibition in the Upper Belvedere received a completely new concept at the beginning of 2018: a total of 420 works can be seen in seven themed rooms on three floors. Thematically, the tour begins with the history of the Belvedere. In other rooms, works of art from the Middle Ages, Baroque, Classicism and Biedermeier are displayed. Viennese Art Nouveau and the art of the period around 1900, of course, is dedicated to a separate large area on the second floor, where Klimt's The Kiss also found its new home. And finally, on the third floor, works of art from the interwar and post-war periods are displayed.

Lower Belvedere and baroque garden

While the Upper Belvedere served for purposes of representation, the Lower Belvedere was the palace where Prince Eugene lived. The feudal splendor of the noble owner of the palace is reflected in the Grotesque Hall, the Marble Gallery and the Golden Room. Thematic exhibitions are held in the Lower Belvedere and in the Orangery. In the ceremonial stables, where the best horses of the prince once stood, today you can admire the pearls of medieval art.

The Belvedere park complex is the pinnacle of baroque landscape architecture. In front of the palace is the so-called reflecting pond, which reflects the facade of the palace. Three large terraces with fountains connect the Upper Belvedere with the Lower Belvedere. The chamber garden was originally intended only for the owner of the palace and his closest friends. The Alpine garden in the palace park is the oldest in Europe.

WienTourismus/Paul Bauer
WienTourismus/Paul Bauer
WienTourismus/Paul Bauer
WienTourismus/Gregor Hofbauer

January 23rd, 2017 , 12:05 am

Along the busy Rennweg street, we came to the Belvedere, the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy. Belvedere is a garden and park ensemble consisting of two palaces-pavilions connected by a regular park of the Versailles type. If you climb the park from the Lower Belvedere to the Upper Belvedere, then gradually a picturesque view of the city opens up.

So Belvedere...

It should be noted that the prince himself never lived here, but built the Belvedere initially for entertainment, although guests sometimes stayed in the Lower Belvedere for the night.
The entrance to the Lower Belvedere is located directly opposite the unpretentious white Guards Church, I showed it in previous Austrian report .
We entered the yard. Here it is, the Lower Palace:

It looks a little rustic from the outside, but this is a deceptive simplicity. Inside is beautiful and sometimes even chic:

We decided not to examine the Lower Palace inside in detail, but to go through the building and admire the ceiling paintings for free:

Sculptures from the category of "modern art" were put on public display right in the entrance hall. For some reason, everyone's heads were missing:

Here's the one I couldn't identify:

And this sculpture struck on the spot with the fact that white women's panties were stretched over its middle part, and even with lace. Apparently, it was a picture of a woman:

Leaving the building of the Lower Belvedere, you find yourself in a park with intricate figures and a fountain of the lower cascade with newts and nymphs. And a beautiful view of the Upper Palace:

I really liked the park. Firstly, plants delight the eye with their regular geometric shapes:

Secondly, fountains and sculptures in antique style are everywhere:

Thirdly, it is very pleasant to walk among the park alleys. And you can even be alone, like a woman in a red robe in the picture below:

While we are exploring the park, I will briefly tell the story of the Belvedere:

This ensemble was created in 1714-1723 by Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt in the Baroque style:

In 1752, Maria Theresa bought the Belvedere from the descendants of the Prince of Savoy. Here were the wedding feasts of the daughter of Marie-Theresa - Marie Antoinette and the future King of France Louis XVI.

Since 1894, the Belvedere has been the residence of Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in Sarajevo triggered World War I. And in 1955, a state treaty on the neutrality of Austria was signed in the Upper Belvedere.

It is believed that the most advantageous view of the park, and indeed of Vienna, opens if you slowly climb from the Lower Belvedere to the Upper:

The view that opens from the windows of the 2nd floor of the Upper Belvedere seemed to me the most beautiful. I put it in the header photo.

I repeat once again that Belvedere Park is very pleasant for leisurely walks in good weather. You can look at the sculptures for a long time.
This one depicts how a completely grown man seduces a very young girl with something incomprehensible in his hands)))

You can admire the old wall, picturesquely overgrown with greenery:

Or go around it and see the same old tiled roofs with many pipes on them:

We were also lucky to meet the local living Apollo, of course, Belvedere)))

The Upper Belvedere survived worse than the Lower Belvedere and was almost completely rebuilt. Only one of the towers has preserved the Palace Chapel, erected in 1723 in the Baroque style, decorated in a rather gloomy color scheme. And the Neapolitan artist Francesco Solimena created a monumental altar for her. Some particularly meticulous historians see Turkish tents in the roof of the Upper Palace:

Some more modern art installed in front of the palace:

But we decided to visit the Upper Belvedere because of the Austrian Gallery located in it. It contains works by Austrian and French expressionists, including the largest collection of works by Gustav Klimt, and a large collection of paintings in the Biedermeier style, reflecting the features of the idyllic life of the "little man" of the burgher era.

A painting depicting Stephansplatz with the main symbol of Vienna, St. Stephen's Cathedral, in the past:

What can I say, we really liked the art collection of the Austrian Gallery. We also saw the brilliant masterpieces of Gustav Klimt "The Kiss" and "Judith", as well as works by Schiele and Kokoschka. But it was strictly forbidden to take pictures of them.
I must say that photography is not allowed at all in the Upper Belvedere, which was written on the front door and even on tickets. But for some reason I did not notice this and managed to take a few pictures. And only when I raised my camera over Klimt's "The Kiss", and the aunt-caretaker rushed to me across the hall shouting "Nicht photo!", I suspected something was wrong. And then my husband casually informed me that it was impossible to take a picture. When I asked why he hadn't told me this before, he replied in surprise: "I thought you knew."
In general, thanks to my inattention, I will show you my poor catch.

In this work, I was particularly impressed by the freshly severed head on a platter and the dog lapping blood. Author Johann Peter Schwanthaler - sculptor, the most famous master of the Rococo style in Austria in the 18th century:

Franz Xaver Messerschmidt is an 18th century Austrian sculptor. He is famous for his works called "Character Heads". An interesting fact is that all the sculptures had one model - the sculptor himself. It's hard for some to believe, but for me it's so obvious:

And here, among the works of the sculptor of the 18th century, there is a Russian head of the 20th century, made by two Russian masters in Arkhangelsk)))

Belvedere Park is a masterpiece of landscape design. It is decorated with figured flower beds, hedges, ponds, fountains and sculptures. The garden is especially beautiful during flowering.

What is the first impression of the Belvedere complex? Of course, the gate. You immediately feel that you are entering some significant place. And then beauty begins ... Well, that's what they call - you can't take your eyes off. All this together - and the palace, and chic flower beds, and ponds with fountains, and the sky above all this splendor - I want to look and look! You can see the city from the park. The palace stands on a hill, and the whole old Vienna is at a glance. I tried to find in the panorama of the city what I had already seen up close - it's difficult, but possible.

The palace itself is surprisingly harmonious: the delicate cream color of the walls literally flows into the flower beds of the regular garden and into the ponds, and the green-turquoise roof merges with the sky. Upstairs there are many sculptures, entire groups and compositions. All this I want to consider and photograph larger. Luckily, photography is allowed outside.

The palace complex appeared thanks to Prince Eugene of Savoy. The Belvedere was built based on the Parisian Versailles. The entire complex was built in the Baroque style and is considered one of the best in the world in this style. It includes two buildings - the Lower Belvedere and the Upper Belvedere. Time itself favored the appearance of these architectural masterpieces. The 17th century is the time of the highest prosperity and power of the great Austrian Empire. Belvedere became a symbol and proof of this heyday. The prince first built himself a summer house, not to sit in the summer in the city. It turned out the Lower Belvedere. But I looked - it turned out to be small. And he built another, bigger one - the Upper Belvedere. And between them - arranged a garden ...

After the death of Eugene of Savoy, this complex was acquired by Empress Maria Theresa. In those days, no one wanted to lag behind in wealth, luxury, the scope of palaces and parks. Probably, the Belvedere did not give the Habsburgs peace - how, such a beauty, but not mine ... Well, okay, what’s bad for us: they left such palaces behind! At the beginning of the 20th century, the heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, lived here. Well, the one who was killed in Sarajevo.

The building of the Upper Belvedere houses the Austrian Gallery. The facade of the building is decorated with sculptures. There are many of them in the park, near the ponds, at the fountains, on the terraces. Not only are there many, there are A LOT of them. Here are people, and horses, and sphinxes, and some other mythical creatures.

Here I look and try to imagine what they were, the people of that era. How they conceived it all, designed it, built it, created such a unique harmony that I'm standing here, forgetting to close my mouth, and go dumb with admiration. After all, centuries have passed! Yes, they lived by candlelight, rode horses, and created such masterpieces.

The Lower Belvedere is quite similar to the Upper Belvedere. It is located opposite, slightly downhill: there is no view of the city from here. But the view of the Upper Belvedere is even more beautiful than up close! Both palaces are quite far from each other, about a kilometer, and there is a garden (Belvederegarten) between them. Classic palace regular garden. Spacious, open and surprisingly tidy. If the bush is trimmed with a ball, then this is exactly the ball, completely correct.

In the lower Belvedere - a continuation of the same Austrian Museum. The museum, by the way, was opened by the imperial family, exhibiting paintings for public viewing. And if you don’t want to go to the palaces, then very close is the Botanical Garden with a famous rock garden. There is also something to see.

How to get there

Take tram D to the Schloss Belvedere stop or tram 71 to the Unteres Belvedere stop.

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The Belvedere Palace was built as a summer residence for the prince and outstanding commander of his time, Eugene of Savoy. The complex is located in one of the central districts of Vienna - Landstrasse. It includes three main objects - the Upper Belvedere, the Lower Belvedere with a greenhouse and a huge palace park.

The project was carried out by Lukas von Hildebrandt in a characteristic baroque style. After the death of the owner, the palace was acquired by the eldest daughter of the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire Charles VI - Maria Theresa, but left it for a long period of time in desolation. In the 1770s, the son of the queen and empress Joseph II c. A huge collection of works of art was transported to the Upper Palace, and a catalog was compiled at his direction.

Lucas von Hildebrandt's contemporaries believed that the work of the architect created a "small Versailles". He managed to embody the idea of ​​the military triumph of Prince Eugene of Savoy and emphasize his spiritual greatness.

Since the time of construction, the architectural ensemble has not changed much. Only the greenhouse adjoining the Lower Belvedere was redone, and the menagerie that was located near the Upper Palace disappeared. In the period from 1945 to 1955, the halls that were destroyed during the bombing of the Second World War were restored.

Austrian gallery

The world-famous art museum is located in the Belvedere palace complex. The exposition includes works of different trends and eras, from the Middle Ages to the present.

The main part of the collection is devoted to Austrian artists who worked at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, in the era of the so-called “end of the century”. In their works, one can trace the expectation of change and fear of the future, the carelessness and ephemeral nature of being. Then Vienna was famous for the manifestations and support of modern for those years trends in fine arts. It was Art Nouveau, abstractionism, impressionism, early functionalism and other innovations that replaced the excesses of the baroque.

Initially, in 1903, the Austrian Gallery was placed in the greenhouse of the Lower Belvedere. At the insistence of leading artists, it was called the "Modern Gallery". They donated a number of paintings and sculptures to the state, which in the future was to serve as the basis of the collection. However, six years later, the object was renamed the "Royal Austrian State Gallery", and at the same time the collection was replenished with other works of art by Austrian masters of artistic creativity. Since 1918, both palaces were under her control.

The permanent exhibition includes works by Klimt, Kokoschka, Roller, Schiele, Moser and other masters.

Upper Belvedere

The richly decorated palace was built in 1722 as a representative residence. Its halls housed a priceless art collection collected by the prince-patron, Maria Theresa and her heir, Joseph II. The public museum opened its doors in 1781, one of the first in the world. After 110 years, the collection was moved to the Kunsthistorisches Museum, and in 1896 the palace was given to the heir to the Austrian throne as a residence.

Today in the halls there are works by Austrian artists of the XIX-XX centuries. era of the "end of the century", as well as more modern painters. The core of the collection and the main pride are the works of Gustav Klimt, the founder of Art Nouveau in Austrian painting. Until 2000, there were more than 30 of his works, but, as it turned out, not all of them were acquired legally. Some of the paintings, after checking the museum fund, had to be transferred to the heirs in accordance with the law on restitution.

Several important state documents were signed in the Upper Palace, including:

• the Vienna Protocol of 1941, indicating the accession to the Berlin Pact of 1940 of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia;
• The 1955 Austrian Declaration of Independence established the sovereignty of the state.

The palace has several halls decorated with stucco, frescoes and bas-reliefs. Attention is drawn to the halls of Terena, Carlone, Marble. Carlo Carlone, Marcantonio Chiarini, Gaetano Fanti worked on their design.

Lower Belvedere

The palace was founded in 1714, and two years later it was ready for occupancy. The prince's living rooms and halls were located here. During the French Revolution, which took place in 1789-99, representatives of the royal family lived in the Lower Belvedere.

In 1815, it was decided to move to the palace a huge art collection, located in Austrian Innsbruck, in the Ambras castle. In 1903, the "Modern Gallery" was opened here.

Two elongated wings are attached to the central body. The interior is made in a refined style. Well-known masters took part in the design. The amazingly beautiful Marble Hall houses the original allegorical statues by Georg R. Donner, taken from the Providence Fountain, located on Vienna's Neue Markt. The walls of the hall are decorated with stucco and frescoes by Gaetano Fanti, and the ceiling is painted by Altomonte Martino. In the building you can visit the Marble Gallery, the Golden Study, the Mirror and Grotesque Hall, as well as the prince's state bedroom, decorated with unique upholstery.

Since 1923, the Palace has housed the Austrian Baroque Museum, which exhibits works by Austrian painters of the 17th-18th centuries. Next to the palace are stables and a greenhouse.

Park and gardens

The land for building and laying out the park was acquired by Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1697, then still outside the city. Planning of the territory began three years later. The project was commissioned by Dominique Gerard, but the main work was carried out by Anton Zinner, a well-known specialist in landscape design at that time.

By 1725, the park, stretched between two palaces, appeared in all its charm. It perfectly filled the space, unfolding symmetrically along the main axis of the palace ensemble. Today there are hedges, trees and shrubs, fountains and cascades, sculptures, terraces and flower beds. The local flora has more than four thousand plants. The best time to visit is spring and summer.

In the 18th century, representatives of any class could freely walk in the palace park.

The park is divided into three gardens:

• Castle - main;
• Chamber - the prince's private garden (next to the greenhouse);
• Alpine - the oldest in Europe (east of the Upper Palace).

Ticket prices

The cost of visiting the Upper Belvedere:

• for adults — 16 €;
• for students under 26 years old and pensioners - 13.50 €;

Ticket prices for the Lower Belvedere and the Orangery:

• for adults — 14 €;
• for students under 26 years old and pensioners - 11 €;
• for children up to 18 years old inclusive - 0 €.

There are mobile taxi applications in Vienna - Mytaxi, TaxiPlus, Taxi 31300, Taxi 40100, Uber.

Belvedere Palace: video