History of the Garden

The garden acquired its present form in 1973/74 as part of a project by the Schönbrunn Garden Design School. The garden was designed to models of surviving Renaissance gardens.

Eight rectangular compartments, symmetrically arranged around a central axis, divide up the good 6,000 square metre meadow. Four areas are planted with lively patterns, two are planted with a few formal ornamental trees, and two in several rows of fruit trees planted in strict symmetry. Local and exotic plants have been placed along the surrounding walls.

Under the direction of landscape architect Christian Winkler, the wooded areas have been rejuvenated in recent years and an automatic irrigation system installed. Strong colours have also been part of the previously “green-on-green” garden in 2003. Thousands of bulbs herald the arrival of spring, shrubs and annuals provide brilliant blossoms right through till late autumn. Historic climbing roses and clematis turn their faces to the sun on trellises fixed to the warming brick walls. Suitable shrubs and ground cover have also been placed in the shade under useful and ornamental trees.

Models are the gardens that exist to this day in Italy, the birthplace of the Renaissance. Examples include gardens of the Villa d´Este, Palazzina Farnese, Villa Gamberaia and Villa Garzoni. The garden of Villandry Castle in France is well known. The kitchen garden of Villandry was famous across Europe during the Renaissance.

The unique terracotta arcade suggests how magnificent the garden must have been as part of the overall ensemble in the 16th century. Current research efforts are therefore attempting to trace the original shape of the garden.