website619059.gif
cascades and fountains liven up the place
the backside of the Upper Belvedere, viewed from the gardens
statues flank the entrance of the Upper Belvedere
a female sphinx stands ready to take off
on our way to the Upper Belvedere
a small outdoor cafe caters to the thirsty visitors
Schloss Belvedere

Belvedere is a complex of two Baroque palaces and gardens loaded with statues, fountains and cascades.

The Belvedere was build for
Prince Eugene of Savoy, a successful general of the Holy Roman Empire who destroyed the Ottoman army in the battle of Zenta. His military successes brought him also tremendous wealth which he spent on grand Baroque building projects.

Construction on the
Lower Belvedere and the gardens started in 1712 and by 1723 the Upper Belvedere with the spectacular Marble Hall was completed.

Prinz Eugen, as the Austrians called him, used the Belvedere as his summer residence and stuffed the place with his large collection of expensive paintings.

Today the Belvedere is a museum that houses a large collection of Austrian art, including works of Gustaf Klimt.

The gently sloping gardens are of a special beauty with spouting fountains, elaborate cascades and marble statues.

We strolled the Belvedere gardens in May 2014.

website619054.jpg website619053.jpg website619052.jpg website619051.jpg website619050.jpg website619049.jpg website619048.jpg website619047.jpg website619047.jpg website619046.jpg website619045.jpg website619044.jpg website619002.gif website619042.gif website619041.gif
1
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
end
website619003.gif website619001.gif
the imposing wrought iron entrance gate is under repair
website619002.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif
the bucket stands ready, would you dare to clean this beast?
3
website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif
hold your horses!
website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif
looking down the other way towards the Lower Belvedere
website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif
now what?
website619014.jpg website619013.jpg website619012.jpg website619011.jpg
there are even mermaids
another cascade with fountains
a violent scene
13
14
15
16
website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif
at the end of the gardens stands the Lower Belvedere
website619003.gif website619002.gif website619001.gif