The
Belvedere Vienna - The Belvedere was completed
in 1723 for the Prince of Savoy and is thought to
be Vienna’s most beautiful baroque palace. It
is in fact two facing Palaces – the Upper
Belvedere and the Lower Belvedere.
It is near the centre of the City of Vienna but, nonetheless,
an oasis with beautiful gardens, fountains, lakes,
a terrace view to rival any. Belvedere means “beautiful
view”.
Between the palaces is a magnificently laid out formal
garden and it is lovely to stroll around these gardens,
admiring the flowers, the lake, etc as in interval
in your hectic sightseeing..
The Treaty of Austria giving Austria its independence
after World War 2 was signed in the Upper Belvedere
in 1955 in the Great Marble Chamber.
The Great Marble Chamber is awsome with marbles of
many colours, extensive mural decoration, and gilt
everywhere. The Terrena Room has massive stone carved
columns.
Both Palaces are now Art Galleries and Museums
– In the Upper Belvedere, The 19th and 20th
Century Art Gallery; The Austrian Baroque Museum in
the Lower Belvedere (there is also the Austrian Museum
of Medieval Art in the Orangerie).
The best underground station for Belvedere is Sudtiroler
Platz two stops from Karlsplatz on the Red line (U1).
