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Schönbrunn
South west of the city (U4 underground), the former imperial summer residence takes its name from a nearby spring.
In 1695 the Emperor Leopold I gave the task of building this baroque palace to J.B. Fischer von Erlach (who also built the Karlskirche).
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The project was completed in the mid-18th century by Nikolaus Pacassi under the patronage of the Empress Maria Theresia.
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The symmetry of the building is continued in the formal gardens in the French style.
The extensive grounds include a palm house, a 'Roman ruins' folly (used as an open air theatre backdrop some years ago), the Emperor's private theatre (now performing to the public), and a Zoo (the oldest in the world).
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| Entry to the grounds is free and they are a wonderful place to go for a walk or have a picnic lunch.
Particularly noteworthy is the topiary work - not just the bushes and hedges one might expect to find, but the massive tree-lined avenues where the trees are cut to form flat walls.
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At the end of this avenue are the 'Roman ruins' built as a folly in 1778.
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| The Gloriette, another folly, built in 1775 by Ferdinand von Hohenberg, crowns the hill behind the palace.
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The Gloriette now contains a good café with live music, and there are great views from the terrace.
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On each side of the entrance stairways are these sculptured displays of armorial splendour, showing imperial might.
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For a small fee one may climb the stairs up to the roof for some stunning views of the city.
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