Vienna is home to Schönbrunn Palace, the former summer residence of the Habsburg rulers.
The palace developed from a hunting lodge commissioned by Emperor Maximilian II in the 16th century. The present Baroque complex was built mainly during the 18th century, especially under Empress Maria Theresa, who used it as an imperial residence and court center.
Schönbrunn contains more than 1,400 rooms, although only a portion is open to visitors. Its grounds include formal gardens, the Gloriette on a hill, fountains, sculptures, and one of the world’s oldest surviving zoos, Tiergarten Schönbrunn.
The palace became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It is sometimes confused with Vienna’s Hofburg, which served as the Habsburgs’ principal winter residence in the city center.