The Belvedere: the prince's palace and the Kiss

Stops along the way

Things to notice.

1. 01

   1

   Upper Belvedere

   Prince Eugene of Savoy built this as his summer palace and his swagger; it's now the gallery that owns Klimt's *The Kiss*. Go for the Klimt room first, before the coaches arrive — the gold leaf does something to a room that no postcard manages. The palace itself is the rest of the reason.

   01

   Upper Belvedere

   Prince Eugene of Savoy built this as his summer palace and his swagger; it's now the gallery that owns Klimt's *The Kiss*. Go for the Klimt room first, before the coaches arrive — the gold leaf does something to a room that no postcard manages. The palace itself is the rest of the reason.

   ◉Street View
2. 02

   2

   The cascade gardens

   Step out the garden side and the whole baroque layout falls away below you — terraces, fountains, clipped hedges dropping toward the lower palace, the city's spires on the skyline. This is the view the prince paid for. Walk down the central axis slowly; the sphinxes line the way.

   02

   The cascade gardens

   Step out the garden side and the whole baroque layout falls away below you — terraces, fountains, clipped hedges dropping toward the lower palace, the city's spires on the skyline. This is the view the prince paid for. Walk down the central axis slowly; the sphinxes line the way.

   ◉Street View
3. 03

   3

   Lower Belvedere

   At the bottom of the slope, the prince's actual living quarters — lower, longer, more intimate than the show-palace above. The old Orangery and the marble stables now hold special exhibitions. Worth a look even if you only do the courtyard and the formal beds out front.

   03

   Lower Belvedere

   At the bottom of the slope, the prince's actual living quarters — lower, longer, more intimate than the show-palace above. The old Orangery and the marble stables now hold special exhibitions. Worth a look even if you only do the courtyard and the formal beds out front.

   ◉Street View
4. 04

   4

   Botanical Garden of the University

   Slip out the east gate into the university's *Botanischer Garten*, founded by Maria Theresa's doctor for medicinal plants. It's free, calm, and almost no tourist finds it — a working botanical collection where students label the beds. The glasshouses are the prize if they're open.

   04

   Botanical Garden of the University

   Slip out the east gate into the university's *Botanischer Garten*, founded by Maria Theresa's doctor for medicinal plants. It's free, calm, and almost no tourist finds it — a working botanical collection where students label the beds. The glasshouses are the prize if they're open.

   ◉Street View
5. 05

   5

   Schweizergarten

   South of the palace grounds, the *Schweizergarten* is a plain, generous public park — pond, lawns, locals on benches. After the formality above, it's a soft landing. Cut through it toward the station, or sit a while; nobody's rushing you.

   05

   Schweizergarten

   South of the palace grounds, the *Schweizergarten* is a plain, generous public park — pond, lawns, locals on benches. After the formality above, it's a soft landing. Cut through it toward the station, or sit a while; nobody's rushing you.

   ◉Street View