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The Schoenbrunn Palace is the Viennese residence of the Austrian emperors and one of the most important architectural structures of the Austrian Baroque. The palace and park ensemble includes a huge park and the palace itself, here you can visit the oldest zoo in Europe, as well as the botanical garden and the labyrinth, admire fountains and other garden and park facilities. Visitors especially like the Palm House and the Glorietta Pavilion. The palace and its gardens are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.The first mention of the building that occupied the site of the current palace dates back to the XIV century. It was an estate with the name Katterburg, it was owned by the Klosterneuburg monastery and included a residential building, a stable, a watermill and a garden. In 1569, the Habsburgs became the owners of this place. There is a legend that Emperor Matthias, hunting in 1612, witnessed the "beautiful springs" (Schöne Brunnen), it was thanks to this moment that the palace acquired its current name. At the same time, by order of the emperor, a well was installed here and a hunting lodge was rebuilt.Emperor Ferdinand II and his wife Eleonora Gonzaga, great fans of hunting, Schoenbrunn was chosen as a place for the court to go hunting. When Ferdinand died in 1637, his widow began to live in the castle, giving it the name Schoenbrunn.
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