Carl Schütz (1745–1800); Johann Ziegler (1749–1802); Artaria and Comp., Palace of the Paintings Collection of His Serene Highness Prince Liechtenstein, Viewed from the Garden, c. 1816
The Liechtenstein Park
From formal Baroque garden to verdant oasis
The gardens of the Liechtenstein Palace in the Rossau quarter not only offer a welcome refuge from the heat in summer in the shade of their ancient plane trees. They are an oasis of tranquillity and recreation at any time of the year, where residents and visitors can escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy some downtime.
Explore the fascinating history of the Liechtenstein Park and how it was documented in paintings and engravings over the years.
Originally the gardens were designed in Baroque style with symmetrical beds arranged around a central fountain. Together with the garden of the Belvedere Palace belonging to Prince Eugene of Savoy it was among the most important examples of Baroque garden art in Vienna. It was famed in particular for its citrus trees, which were overwintered in purpose-built orangeries and displayed in sheltered areas of the gardens during the summer months. At the end of the gardens, marked by the course of the Alserbach brook, stood a pleasure pavilion designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. It was replaced in 1873 by the Alserbach Palace, built to designs by Heinrich von Ferstel, that still stands today.
At the end of the eighteenth century the park was remodelled in the English style. The oldest trees date from this time. It was a place of amusement and pleasure, designed for strolling and promenading. At different times various hothouses were erected and then eventually taken down again, and the garden also boasted the attraction of a grotto. From 1814 it was opened to the public.
Both the historical and the contemporary aspects of landscape design are combined in the revitalization project realized during the course of the restoration of the palace, which has been open to the public since 2004. The historical stands of trees and the appearance of the English landscape garden around the Alserbach Palace were preserved, while the area around the main building harks back to the Baroque, with formal arrangements of seasonal bedding plants surrounding low box hedges in the shape of the princely monogram.
Visiting
The Liechtenstein Park is open daily to the public from 7.15 am to 8.30 pm.
If this has whet your interest, why not book one of our regular guided tours (on request) which will give you a deeper insight into the park’s history and present-day design.
To the individual guided tours
The peaceful garden of the Liechtenstein Hofkellerei is the perfect place to unwind and enjoy culinary delicacies and a glass of wine.