Prince Eugene of Savoy (1663-1736), successful general and art connoisseur, had Belve-dere garden palace built by Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt as his summer residence – at the time it was still outside the gates of the city.
This baroque architectural jewel consists of two palaces (Upper and Lower Belvedere), which today house Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day.
Upper Belvedere - world's largest Klimt collection
At the heart of the collections at the Belvedere are the works of Gustav Klimt with his golden paintings "The Kiss" and "Judith". The masterpieces by Schiele and Kokoschka as well as works of French Impressionism and highlights of the Vienna Biedermeier era (Waldmüller, Amerling, Fendi) that you will see here are every bit as impressive as the paintings of Makart, Boeckl, Wotruba, Hausner, Hundertwasser and others.
Masterworks of late Gothic art like the Znaim Altar, works by Michael Pacher, Rueland Frueauf the Elder and Conrad Laib are also on display here, along with lavish works of art dating from the baroque age. Significant works by Johann Michael Rottmayr, Daniel Gran and Paul Troger give a fascinating insight into the wealth of these times. The grimacing character heads by the sculptor Franz Xaver Messerschmidt are also very emotive.
Lower Belvedere - Prince Eugene’s apartments and staterooms
The feudal splendor of the palace’s aristocratic owner is reflected in the Hall of Grotesques, the Marble Gallery, and the Golden Room. Intriguing special exhibitions are staged in the Lower Belvedere and the Orangery.
Palace stables – Medieval Study Collection
The stables once housed the prince's 12 finest horses: today you will find the Belvedere's entire medieval art collection here.
tram D: Schloss Belvedere
tram O, 18, bus 13A: Südbahnhof
daily 10am-6pm (last admission 5.30 p.m.)
tram 71: Unteres Belvedere
daily 10am-6pm,
Wed 10am-9pm
tram D, O, 18: Südbahnhof
April-July daily
10 a.m.-6 p.m.; closed in rain or strong wind
Comments
Reduced admission for persons with special needs and their escorts (2 Euro each). Tours in Austrian sign language, "seeing differently" (tactile tours) for the blind and visually impaired in groups up to 15 people (by prior arrangement). Multimedia guide about Belvedere and the collection in Austrian sign language