Gloriette Schönbrunn

The colonnaded pavilion on the hill above Schönbrunn, and the viewpoint that gives the palace its postcard.

Maria Theresa had it built in 1775 by Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg as the climax of the garden axis — a triumphal arch in all but name, celebrating Habsburg power and the just war, and crowned by an imperial eagle on a globe. Part of the stone came from the ruins of the Neugebäude, a Renaissance palace on the other side of the city. It was badly damaged in the Second World War and restored afterwards, most recently in the 1990s.

The terrace in front is free and open whenever the park is. Behind the glass of the central hall is Café Gloriette, a proper place for a coffee and cake with a view down the whole length of the gardens to the palace and the city skyline behind it; it gets busy on fine weekend afternoons, so aim for the morning. The separate roof platform has had changing seasonal access over the years — check on site rather than relying on old guides.

Practical note: the climb from the palace is steady rather than steep, around 15–20 minutes. If you want to skip it, the side paths from the Hietzing gate are gentler, and the walk down past the Neptune Fountain is the better direction for photos. Plan it with Vienna's palaces.