Looking for that perfect castle setting to post on Instagram? Go no further than this list of the ten most beloved stately homes in Austria.
Following in the footsteps Empress Elisabeth of Austria. Strolling through mediaeval fortresses. Swishing through stately residences feeling like Archduchess Maria Theresa or Emperor Franz Joseph I – posing in front of the most beautiful palaces and the most magnificent castles in Austria is truly royal. And because historic buildings are particularly popular photo motifs, the travel platform Holidu surveyed the ten most popular Austrian palaces on Instagram. Here are their results.
First place goes to one of the most famous sights in Vienna: the imperial Hofburg. For 700 years, construction work continued on the site in the centre of the city, which now covers an area of 24 hectares. Where the Habsburgs once resided, the Austrian President now has his official residence. The complex also houses the National Library, the Spanish Riding School and various museums. The popularity of the Hofburg is evidenced by the almost 150,000 Instagram photos.
Hot on the heels of the Hofburg is another palace in Vienna. Also owned by the Habsburg dynasty, Schönbrunn Palace served as a summer residence for Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria and Queen of Hungary (1717-1780). The magnificent baroque building with its palace park has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996 and attracts countless visitors every year. A large part of the interior is now open to the public as a museum and most of the palace park is freely accessible to the public.
In third place is the Hohensalzburg Fortress. As the city's landmark, the castle towers majestically over Salzburg. It was built in the 11th century under Archbishop Gebhard and served to protect the principality and the archbishops. At the beginning of the 16th century, the fortress was given its present appearance, which had a decisive influence on Salzburg's cityscape. The annual Salzburg Fortress concerts and museums are a special highlight for visitors.
Mirabell Palace in Salzburg was built in 1606 by Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau for his mistress at the time, Salome Alt, and was initially called Altenau Palace. Prince Archbishop Franz Anton von Harrach had the entire palace remodelled into a pompous baroque-style complex between 1721 and 1727. The palace and its magnificent gardens are listed and are part of the UNESCO World Heritage site.
And another castle from Salzburg makes it into the ranking: Hellbrunn Palace. Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus had it built within a very short time between 1612 and 1615 as a place of pleasure and recreation for the summer months. In the permanent exhibition, visitors can learn about the history of Hellbrunn and view some of the rooms. In addition, the castle with its fairytale setting, is a popular wedding venue.
Graz is home to the largest baroque palace complex in Styria. It is one of Austria's most valuable cultural assets and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2010. Once owned by Prince Hans Ulrich von Eggenberg, the eponymous palace was sold to the province of Styria some 300 years later, in 1939. The large park with its free-roaming peacocks is particularly popular with tourists and families and offers fantastic panoramic views. The 24 state rooms have largely remained unchanged and are very impressive.
The mediaeval castle of Clam, which was first mentioned in documents in the twelfth century, towers above the town of Klam. It is still owned and inhabited by the Clam-Martinic family. Among other things, there is a castle brewery, a riding club and a dairy farm within the grounds. The castle is also available for tours and overnight stays and is a popular event location.
Schloss Leopoldskron is the fourth castle in Salzburg to fall into the top 10. It was built in the 18th century under Prince Archbishop Leopold Anton Freiherr von Firmian, directly in front of the Leopoldskron pond. In 1918, the famous theatre director Max Reinhardt bought Schloss Leopoldskron and renovated it over a period of 20 years, eventually turning it into a meeting place for the arts and culture. Today the castle is mainly used for events.
Ambras Castle rises high above Innsbruck, surrounded by a magnificent castle garden. In 1363 it went to the Habsburg dynasty of princes, who transformed it into a magnificent estate. The castle is open to visitors and offers art collections, armouries and an antiquarium. In addition, those interested in history can immerse themselves in the history of the Habsburg dynasty in the Habsburg Portrait Gallery.
In tenth place in the ranking is the small but fine Schloss Fuschl with 6,479 entries. It is located at the western end of Lake Fuschl on a peninsula and today serves as a luxury hotel. It was built in the middle of the 15th century and used as a hunting lodge at the time. In the 1950s, the famous Sissi films were shot here – the perfect film set. Sadly, very little of the original interior has been preserved, but if you look closely you can still recognise individual elements from earlier times.
