When we were researching Europe, we had come to a very interesting conclusion. Everything outside, i.e gardens, statues etc., was free to see. However, if you wanted to go inside, lets say, a museum, you would have to pay. Same deal for all their palaces, and landmarks.
Now the good thing is that, even if you decide not to go inside "anything", even then you would have too many destinations, and statues and landmarks to cover within 2-3 days!
That said, cathedrals and Churches, which are the places which you really want to see form inside, are free.
Same deal at the Schon Brunn palace.
You could go buy a 10 EU ticket(or was it 8EU), and go inside to see the bed on which the king slept, or you could spend 2-3 hours outside, marveling at the gardens, the statues and their ponds and the fountains.
No prized for guessing what we chose. However, if you are the kind of person who likes to go inside a museum and look at a Picasso or something and then nod your head many times as you appreciate the works of art, I would advise you to buy a city card. It usually costs 25-30 EU/Per person depending on the city, and gives you free entry to most of the attractions. You also get discounts for some concerts and operas.
Or you can choose to save that money, and instead enjoy the concerts which happen on the street on European city squares.
Anyways, as we stood there, the palace itself looked pretty sorry. It was just an yellow building.
However, we noticed a lot of people were going to the left, and lot of people were coming from the right.
Then we understood. The much famed gardens were actually behind the palace, hidden from our eye.
So we decided to walk, towards the legendary gardens, with a million statues.
This particular fountain was the first to catch our eye
India may be known as the land of KS, but Europe has far surpassed us when it comes to naked and semi naked statues.
When Europe emerged from the Dark ages, they went on an art and sculpture "overdrive".
Anyways, here is another option if you do not like to walk, and it costs money
A little further we are greeted by a small gate, and we enter the gardens. An area of the gardens is cordoned off, probably for the "ticket" holders. I mean if everybody can see every part of the gardens, the gentlemen who paid 10 EU will not be happy, right?
As for us its time to head to the path circling the gardens.
Since its a sunday, a lot of people are jogging.
That said, this region of the palace was mostly devoid of tourists, because the main gardens are where the action is.
We would go there, but after circling this part.
Our plan was to go till the end then enter the gardens through the end fountain, and make our way back to the palace.
A lovely fountain depicting angels, mermaids and kids
As we cross this and go further, there is a small "park" with three statues.
At one end sits a sad looking lady
At the other end is a sad looking warrior
And in the middle are the kids
It tells a sad story. but I have no idea what the story is, because the statues do not speak.
We carry on forward, and there is a lovely fountain. I want to click it in its glory, but the angle of the sun does not let me do it.
At that point, we figure we are at the end. Its time to head right, to a small palace at the end of the gardens
On the way we come across this statue
We proceed on the path which is now climbing.
The reason is that we need to get to the Gloriette
Gloriette - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Quote:
A gloriette (from the 12th century French for "little glory") is a building in a garden erected on a site that is elevated with respect to the surroundings. The structural execution and shape can vary greatly, often in the form of a pavilion or tempietto, more or less open on the sides.
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Schon brunn palace has the most well known gloriette, and its indeed quite an imposing site.
Guarding its flanks are dangerous looking statues
A view of the palace from the gloriette
Can you see the gardens?
A lovely carving on the roof
When you go building sightseeing in Europe, never forget to look up. Roofs often have the loveliest murals and carvings.
The Facade of the gloriette bears the name of Empress Maria Theresa. The inscription says
Quote:
"Erected under the reign of Emperor Joseph II and Empress Maria Theresa, 1775."
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The gloriette as seen from the garden side
After spending a few moments there, and marveling at the sights, it was an easy walk downwards, to the gardens.
I took this shot from behind the main fountain
And soon we are in the gardens.
This is the main fountain. The dude with the Trident is most probably Poseidon, the god of Sea.
A symmitrical view
At this point, we realize how seriously does Europe take sculpture. After the dark ages, art and sculpture started experimenting with mythology, something unthinkable in the past.
In the times preceding the dark ages, pagan gods(Greek and Roman) were more or less banished from popular culture and folklore.
But renaissance saw a comeback.
So all over Europe, in non church buildings, you see statues of Poseidon, Jupiter, Thor, Hercules, Europa, Atlas.... the list goes on and on.
We could have sat here all day, but Vienna is huge, and we had to move on. Time to start walking towards the palace!