Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- Und Betriebsges.M.B.H. “If I Could Be Immortal, I Would Only Wish So in Order to Be of Service to the Unfortunate”

Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. “If I could be immortal, I would only wish so in order to be of service to the unfortunate”

Empress Maria Theresa of Austria Titelbild: © SKB | Lois Lammerhuber Titelbild: © BMobV | Gerald Schedy © SKB | Alexander Eugen Koller

Dear readers, © SKB | Stefan Joham

Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. ad- ministers the leading attractions making up Austria's imperial heritage: Schönbrunn Palace, the Hofmobiliende- pot · Imperial Furniture Collection, the Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments and the Imperial Silver Collection at the Hofburg Vienna, as well as Schloss Hof Estate and Schloss Niederweiden.

Our revenues are used for the preservation and renovation of cultural monuments, enabling us to continue offering a unique visitor experience. This is only possible with the help of our skilled and dedicated staff, visionary decision-making committees, and our innovative coope- ration and business partners. An essential element in all this is our open corporate culture and a spirit of mutual appreciation. For this reason, I would like to thank you for your interest and for placing your trust in us.

Indeed we not only preserve and maintain, but we also actively develop our institutions through our commitment

Mag. Klaus Panholzer Managing Director © SKB Mission

Statement © SKB | Lois Lammerhuber

We manage Austria's leading cultural monuments: the World Cultural Heri- tage site of Schönbrunn Palace, the It is our aim, as a flagship enterprise of Sisi Museum, the Imperial Apartments, Austrian cultural tourism, to develop in the Imperial Silver Collection at the an authentic style the resources com- Hofburg Vienna and the Hofmobilien- prised in the monuments within our re- depot · Imperial Furniture Collection. mit – befitting the status of Schönbrunn In addition, we also manage the sites Palace as a World Cultural Heritage of two classic day-trip destinations in site – and to make such monuments Lower Austria: Schloss Hof Estate and readily usable for cultural, touristic and 3 1 Schloss Niederweiden. leisure activities. Leading Austrian A flagship enterprise cultural monuments of Austrian cultural tourism

Service orientation Preservation and renovation of cultural monuments Our principal aim is to maintain a con- Our revenues are primarily used for the sistent orientation towards service pro- preservation and renovation of cultural vision. We are guided by the different monuments. The guiding principle be- requirements of our target groups and hind all our activities is thus the greatest undertake to provide the best possible possible protection of the historical sub- service. Our staff have both dedication stance of the monuments in our care. and initiative, and work collectively to 2 achieve our corporate goals. 4 © SKB | Lois Lammerhuber © SKB | Schoditsch Management Management

Mag. Klaus Panholzer Managing Director

Mag. Dr. Alexander Keil Ing. Herbert Polsterer Mag.a Maria Theresia Authorized officer and Authorized officer and Mayr-Muñoz Carillo assistant director assistant director Authorized officer

Supervisory Board

Mag.a Karin Fuhrmann SC Mag.a Elisabeth Udolf-Strobl KR Josef Fröhlich Chair Deputy Chair Honorary President

DI Matthias Molzbichler SC Dr. Gerhard Popp Mag.a Beatrice Schobesberger

Karin Lirzer Andrea Rotter Michael Schuhböck Employee representative Employee representative Employee representative

Historico-cultural advisory Council

The Council, consisting of art historians, preservationists, museum experts and tourism experts, holds an advisory role in relation to all key questions of touristic use. Alexander Eugen Koller Eugen Alexander © SKB | Prizes, Awards, Certifications

Schönbrunn Academy European Royal Residences Innovative management, audience-focused marketing and The European Royal Residences Association (ARRE) was founded expertise in the conservation of historical monuments in 2001 on the initiative of the Palace of Versailles, where it is can be combined to produce profitable synergies only through also based. Today, the members of this unique European network international knowledge-sharing and the sound professional consist of over 85 historical palaces in 13 countries of the European training of our own staff. In order that know-how and experience Union as well as Russia and Monaco. The Association represents a in this domain can also be passed on at an international level, the unique heritage and is a leading representative of European culture. Schönbrunn Academy was established. The aim of the Association, of which SKB has been a member from the beginning, is, firstly, targeted on knowledge-sharing by members in a wide range of areas such as research, preservation of heritage, management, opening up to tourism, etc.; secondly, the Echocast Association aims to create greater public awareness of our common European heritage. Qualification under the ECHOCAST Standard provides all employees with skills relating to visitor contact, focusing on communication and engagement with visitors. Numerous awards for the online platforms: “EcoprofitOperation” “World of the Habsburgs” (www.habsburger.net) and Since 2002, Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. “The First World War and the End of the Habsburg Monarchy” has been an “Ecoprofit Operation” and aims to run its (ww1.habsburger.net) business operations in an environmentally-friendly manner. The • Erasmus EuroMedia Award / Seal of Approval basic concept of Ecoprofit (“Ecological Project for Integrated • State Prize for Multimedia and e-Business, Environmental Technology”) is to link environmental / winner in the category Culture, Learning, Knowledge ecological benefit with economic profit. • Comenius EduMedia Seal of Approval and Comenius EduMedia Medal • World Summit Award received in Cairo in the category e-Culture and Heritage European Heritage Label: • EuroMedia Seal of Approval and BHÖ (Hofburg) • Erasmus EuroMedia Special Award Alexander Eugen Koller Eugen Alexander © SKB | Our Locations 1 SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE Die Standorte der SKB

HOFMOBILIENDEPOT • 2 IMPERIAL FURNITURE COLLECTION

SISI MUSEUM, IMPERIAL APARTMENTS AND IMPERIAL SILVER COLLECTION 3 AT THE HOFBURG VIENNA 4 SCHLOSS HOF ESTATE 5 SCHLOSS NIEDERWEIDEN Alexander Eugen Koller Eugen Alexander © SKB | © SKB |Agentur Zolles; © BMobV | Harald Boehm Lois Lammerhuber; © SKB Lois Lammerhuber, |Alexander Eugen Koller, SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE © SKB | Agentur Zolles 1 Schönbrunn Palace is a World Cultural Heritage site and Austria’s most-visited tourist attraction. This Baroque architectural masterpiece, which was owned over many centuries by the Habsburgs and consists of the Palace and Gardens, is still largely in its original condition. Visitors can enjoy numerous attractions, from a tour through the © SKB |Alexander Eugen Koller authentically-furnished living and state areas used by the imperial family inside the Palace, to the maze and labyrinth in the Gardens, as well as the Palace's own Children's Museum.

Schönbrunn Palace is a unique Baroque work of art consisting of the the living accommodation of Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife erstwhile residential Palace of the Habsburgs as well as the surroun- Elisabeth, dating from the 19th century and situated in the west wing ding Gardens measuring 1.5 km². of the Palace. The tour continues via the state rooms in the middle section and the apartments occupied by Maria Theresa. From 1569 until the end of the monarchy in 1918, the estate was owned by the European ruling dynasty of the Habsburgs. Under the In the east wing are the so-called Franz Karl Apartments, which reign of Empress Maria Theresa, from 1740 onwards, the Palace were occupied by the parents of Emperor Franz Joseph I, Archdu- saw its most glorious era, becoming the centre of both court and chess Sophie and Archduke Franz Karl. The various features and political life. The original Baroque features from that time have been furnishings are indicative of the lifestyle, atmosphere and worldview preserved to this day. With the end of the monarchy, Schönbrunn prevailing in the imperial age. Palace passed into the ownership of the Republic of Austria and, Likewise, the Gardens, with their imposing architectural features, re- soon thereafter, was opened to the public. In 1996, the Palace and main largely in their original condition and are accessible for visitors Gardens as a unit were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. to explore. The Neptune Fountain, the Obelisk Fountain, the Roman Today, visitors to Schönbrunn Palace can gain an impression of the Ruin and above all the Gloriette, which stands on a visual axis with authentic imperial lifestyle from the residential and state rooms which the Palace and affords a view over the entire grounds, form the de- faithfully reflect their original features. Of the 307 rooms in the Palace, fining features of the Gardens, which were conceived as a continu- around forty are open to visitors. A tour of the Palace begins with ation of the Palace's stately interior. SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE SCHÖNBRUNN PALACE The Children's Museum at Schönbrunn Palace 1 Meetings and events The Children’s Museum invites its young visitors on a trip to experience The Meetings and Events department is situated on the east side of the the monarchy at the time of Maria Theresa and her descendants. Palace complex in the so-called Apothecaries’ Wing (Apothekertrakt). It operates event management for conferences, seminars, congresses and corporate events as well as weddings and private festivities.

Historical events are communicated in a child-friendly The rooms were originally used in connection with the gardens and suring 700 square meters, and in the summer, the Plant Orangery, way through numerous interactive exhibits. At the for residential purposes; following comprehensive renovation, they covering a further 1,000 square meters, may be booked. In addition, forefront is the life of the imperial children at the court, were allocated for new use in connection with meetings and events, the Meetings and Events department also offers the opportunity to which was far from ordinary. The Museum is concei- and present a unique atmosphere. The Apothecaries´ Wing offers a hire the Great Gallery in the main Palace building, as well as the ved as a world of experience in which children can be- Agentur Zolles © SKB | total area of 1,800 square meters; in addition, the Orangery, mea- White-and-Gold Rooms on the ground floor. come acquainted with courtly life in all its facets. The rooms are dedicated to different topic areas and show how children at court dressed, how they played, how they ate and much more.

Museum visitors themselves participate in imperial life; thus children are able to copy elaborate hairstyles, © SKB | Katja Mittermayr try on clothing and lay a festive table. The Museum's special events are also unique, such as quadrille dancing and mascot Poldi's craft workshops. Birthday parties can also be booked in this imperial setting. © SKB | Agentur Zolles / Fotograf Johannes Brunnbauer © SKB | 2 HOFMOBILIENDEPOT • IMPERIAL FURNITURE COLLECTION Originally, the Imperial Furniture Collection was the Habsburgs’ furniture repository. Today, with around 165,000 items, it ranks as one of the largest furniture collections in the world, with furniture exhibits spanning over four centuries, and ranging from imperial furniture to a whole variety of decorative styles, from Biedermeier, historicism and the Viennese Moderne, to contemporary furniture design.

© BMobV | Lois Lammerhuber Changing special exhibitions are dedicated in particular to the crea- tive architectural, design and furniture output of the 20th century, as well as leading figures from the Habsburg dynasty.

The Imperial Furniture Collection boasts an exceptional wealth of historico-cultural assets. The core of the Museum consists of original furniture items of the Habsburgs, once used to furnish Schönbrunn © BMobV | Lois Lammerhuber Palace, Belvedere Palace, Laxenburg Castle and numerous other castles and palaces. The items on display include armchairs, tab- les, beds, commodes and entire room suites, as well as carpets, chandeliers, paintings or cutlery. Attributed to individual members of the imperial court household, such as Crown Prince Rudolf, Maximilian of Mexico, Empress Elisabeth, Emperor Franz II/I or Prince Eugene, the items not only reflect political events and stately ceremonies, but also aspects of everyday life. the furniture, which is of such importance in both artistic terms and The items on display, numbering approximately 6,500, originate from a historico-cultural perspective. To this day, the Bundesmobi- from the furniture depository established by Empress Maria lienverwaltung - Federal Administration of Moveables remains res- Theresa in 1747, in which all furniture of the imperial court house- ponsible for furnishing offices of state as well as Austrian embassies hold was stored and maintained until the end of the monarchy. abroad, and for providing the furnishings for state receptions. Tradi- Since 1919, the depository has been owned by the Republic of tional crafts are practised in the Administration's workshops, and the Austria, with the Bundesmobilienverwaltung - Federal Administra- relevant skills passed on to young people through traineeships. tion of Moveables being responsible for maintaining and caring for © SKB | Edgar Knaack SISI MUSEUM, IMPERIAL APARTMENTS AND IMPERIAL SILVER COLLECTION © SKB © | Koller Eugen Alexander AT THE HOFBURG VIENNA 3 Sisi Museum Over several centuries, the Since 2004, the Stephan Apartment, named after Archduke Stephan Viktor, has housed the “Sisi Museum”. Through numerous Hofburg Vienna constituted personal items of Empress Elisabeth, the personality of this the centre of the Habsburg often-misunderstood and frequently-misinterpreted Empress is presented. The empathetic design, by renowned set designer Prof. Empire. Today, three museum Rolf Langenfass, is based on the monarch's personal poetry, and © SKB | Alexander Eugen Koller attractions provide authentic illustrates how Sisi, a carefree little Bavarian girl, became an un- historical insights into courtly approachable and melancholy woman. In designing the Museum, tradition and everyday life: the Imperial Apartments, their décor faithfully reproduced in the original style, the Imperial

Silver Collection, an extensive © SKB | Alexander Eugen Koller particular attention has been given to avoiding an uncritical per- petuation of the Sisi myth, but instead, avoiding common clichés, collection of fine imperial tab- portraying a true-to-life picture of Empress Elisabeth. The objects le-ware, and the sensitively- exhibited in the Sisi Museum, numbering over 300, include parasols, designed Sisi Museum. fans, jewellery, beauty recipes, a reproduction of the gown worn by Elisabeth on the eve of her wedding, her Hungarian coronation gown, the black coat with which the monarch was covered after her assassination in Geneva, her death mask and autopsy report, as well as a replica of the imperial saloon car. SISI MUSEUM, IMPERIAL APARTMENTS AND 3 IMPERIAL SILVER COLLECTION AT THE HOFBURG VIENNA Imperial Silver Collection For over 600 years, the Hofburg Vienna was the residence of the Habsburgs. In addition The Imperial Silver Collection, situated on the ground to residential apartments, in the former castle complex each individual family member floor, is the largest display collection in the world reflec- ting the culture of a courtly household. From the contents also had their own ceremonial rooms, rooms for their staff, and several kitchens; of the former Court Silver and Table Room, exquisite there was also the Court Silver and Table Room. In parts of the total of eighteen wings,

© SKB | Alexander Eugen Koller individual items used by members of the imperial house, as well as whole sets, are presented, impressively illus- comprising 2,600 rooms, three different visitor attractions are currently offered, trating the affluence of the imperial household. providing an authentic insight into imperial life. Over an exhibition area of 1,310 square meters, 7,000 items are displayed. Cooking pots from the Court Kitchens, baking tins from the Court Confectionary, table linen, glassware services, silverware, porcelain crockery and centrepieces made of gilded bronze are included Imperial Apartments among the astonishing variety of preserved everyday items and works of art. The Imperial Apartments comprise the 19 rooms occupied by Franz Joseph and his wife Elisabeth. Visitors to these Particularly prized exhibits are the personal utensils rooms are able to see them with their original features and (“Mundzeug”) of Empress Maria Theresa, the golden © SKB | Alexander Eugen Koller furnishings, renewed through extensive restoration work. table service of Napoleon I, the Minton dessert service

© SKB | Alexander Eugen Koller The décor of the private rooms reflect Emperor Franz (a gift from Queen Victoria to Emperor Franz Joseph), Joseph's modest tastes. While such décor conveys impe- Empress Elisabeth's travel service, imperial sanitary rial splendour, it does not suggest extravagant pomp. ware, bourdalous and chamber pots, the impressive Milan centrepiece and a unique collection of Bieder- Highlights of a tour include the Study, where Franz Joseph meier floral plates. surrounded himself with countless pictures and mementos of family members, the Dressing and Exercise Room used by the beauty-conscious Sisi, as well as the Dining Room, its table laid with original tableware of the period. SCHLOSS HOF ESTATE © SKB | Lois Lammerhuber 4 The stately residential building, an elaborate terraced garden and a tranquil estate farm with adventure paths are combined to form an integral experience linking imperial splendour and rural idyll in a unique fashion. As early as during the time of Prince Eugene, Schloss Hof Estate was known far and wide as a venue for glittering festivities. Today, this tradition is being continued through opulent amenities and numerous events for the whole family.

The Palace The Garden

Following the authentic restoration of Maria Theresa and Emperor Still more than the Palace, the Baroque Garden, arranged over Joseph II's Apartments and the original furniture of Prince Eugene, seven terraces descending gently down to the March, was much restored with attention to the finest detail, the Palace's state rooms admired even back in the 18th century. The artistically-arranged are once again as resplendent as back at the time when they were broderie flower beds, boskets and ornate fountains serve today, just designed by the leading artists of the day. These rooms on the piano as in the past, as an idyllic place of retreat in which to spend time nobile, which served to demonstrate the taste, wealth, and status relaxing. Prince Eugene's Orangeries – two technically-impressive of the Palace's owners, are still used today for presentations and and architecturally-imposing glass houses with adjacent gardens – special exhibitions. also testify to the Prince's great passion for plants. © SKB | Fritz Simak, Lois Lammerhuber, Hertha Hurnaus © SKB | Fritz Simak, Lois Lammerhuber, 4 SCHLOSS HOF ESTATE

The estate farm

Everyday life during the Baroque era is turned into a sensual experience at Schloss Hof Estate; on the picturesque estate farm, tra- ditional herbs are once again flourishing, while fruit and vegetable varieties may be found in the Weinviertel Garden and the Kitchen Garden. In a separate “Naschgarten”, berry tasting is offered. The © SKB | Harald Böhm Herb Garden, arranged in the style of a Baroque monastery garden, as well as the Rose Garden and the “Herrenhof” Courtyard, planted with mature shrubs, complete the selection of themed gardens at Schloss Hof Estate.

Authentically equipped craft workshops show the art of wood turners, potters and basket weavers. The Hammock Garden provides the opportunity to relax in the shade of ancient nut trees. In the interactive Children's and Family World in the Bäckenhof, as well as on adventure paths, the Palace's youngest visitors learn through play how the Palace was provided for during the Baroque era. However, the main attraction of the estate farm is its animal inhabitants: in total, around 200 animals, including numerous now-rare ancient Austrian dome- sticated breeds, such as Noriker horses, Walachian and Hungarian sheep, four-horned goats or white donkeys can all be seen.

An imperial place of relaxation

Maria Theresa herself was impressed by the unique beauty of Schloss Hof Estate. She came here with her large family so as to “relieve his (the Emperor's) soul of the burden of ruling”; such are her words as inscribed on the Palace facade facing the gardens. To this day, the Palace complex on the Marchfeld is an idyllic retreat providing the opportunity to relax and enjoy unforgettable experiences of the © SKB | Rita Newman © SKB | Friederike Scheytt Baroque era brought to life. An extensive and colourful programme of events invites the visitor to come back again and again. © SKB | Jana Madzigon SCHLOSS NIEDERWEIDEN ContactPrag details

B221 OTTAKRING DANUBE Rathaus VIENNA Schloss Niederweiden was built in 1693 by Johann Bernhard Fischer 5 Hofburg von Erlach for Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg under the

name “Engelhartstetten Hunting Lodge”. In 1726, Prince Eugene Hofmobiliendepot • of Savoy bought the Palace, having acquired the nearby Herrschaft Imperial Furniture Collection Mariahilfer Straße Hof a year before as a country residence and hunting ground. E Marchegg Linz DANUB VIENNA Bratislava St. Pölten München Salzburg Eisenstadt Schönbrunn Schönbrunn Wiener Grtel B221 Garden Palace Gloriette

Just as Schloss Hof Estate, Schloss Niederweiden also acquired its Innsbruck present-day appearance essentially under the influence of Maria Graz Theresa. In 1765, her court architect, Nikolaus von Pacassi, remo- delled the building in accordance with her wishes, and many rooms

One particularly charming example of this is the Great Hall (Fest- Schönbrunn Palace Schloss Hof Estate Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47 Schloss Hof 1 saal), the paintings of which originate from Jean-Baptiste Pillement; A-1130 Wien A-2294 Schloßhof Gänserndorf Slovakia Tulln Tel.: +43 (0) 1 / 811 13 - 0 Tel.: +43 (0) 2285 / 20 000 B49 out of the wood panelling grow exotic flowering trees decorated with Klosterneuburg musical instruments, extending up to the celling; in the areas of the E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] www.schoenbrunn.at www.schlosshof.at wall in between, sit musicians of Oriental appearance. In order to Marchegg Hofmobiliendepot • Schloss Niederweiden provide hospitality befitting the status of illustrious guests, Fischer St. Pölten VIENNA Imperial Furniture Collection Niederweiden 1 Schloss Hof Estate von Erlach incorporated a game kitchen into a building adjacent to Andreasgasse 7 A-2292 Engelhartstetten Schloss Niederweiden the Palace residence. A-1070 Wien Tel.: +43 (0) 2285 / 20 000 D A N U B E BRATISLAVA Tel.: +43 (0) 1 / 524 33 57 E-Mail: [email protected] Schwechat Hainburg on Two open hearths were built – large enough to accommodate an E-Mail: [email protected] www.schlosshof.at the Danube A4 entire stag on a spit or to cook large pieces of game on a gridiron. www.hofmobiliendepot.at B9 Three hundred years after it was built, the room, furnished in its Sisi Museum & Imperial Apartments A6 original style, once again conveys an authentic atmosphere of Ba- & Imperial Silver Collection roque cosiness and is also used for culinary events in the cont- Hofburg - Michaelerkuppel A-1010 Wien A4 ext of annual special exhibitions. An added attraction at Schloss Tel.: +43 (0) 1 / 533 75 70 Niederweiden is the garden, with its ancient trees and tranquil paths. E-Mail: [email protected] www.hofburg-wien.at OWNED BY: The Republic of Austria

Factbox 2017 MANAGEMENT: Schloß Schönbrunn Kultur- und Betriebsges.m.b.H. (SKB)

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Mag. Klaus Panholzer

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: c. 345, 67% female

TOTAL SALES REVENUES: c. EUR 60,500,000.00

INVESTMENT & RESTORATION VOLUME: c. 9,500,000.00

TOTAL NUMBER OF VISITORS: 3,877,000

NUMBER OF VISITORS TO EACH LOCATION: Schönbrunn: c. 2,740,000 Sisi Museum & Imperial Apartments & Imperial Silver Collection at the Hofburg Vienna: c. 772,000 Hofmobiliendepot • Imperial Furniture Collection: c. 65,000 Schloss Hof Estate & Schloss Niederweiden: ca. 300,000 Alexander Eugen Koller Eugen Alexander © SKB | ENGLISH

Schönbrunner Schloßstraße 47 A-1130 Wien Tel.: +43 (0) 1 / 811 13 - 0 Fax: +43 (0) 1 / 812 11 06 E-Mail: [email protected]