Perched on a 200 foot hill overlooking the central garden at Schönbrunn Palace is the fabulous Gloriette. The colonnade was designed by court architect Johann Ferdinand Hetzendorf von Hohenberg and finished in 1775. Maria Theresa intended this to be a Monument to Just War, meaning engaging in battle to accomplish peace. The memorial honors those who died during the War of the Austrian Succession (1740–1748) and the Seven Years’ War (1756–1763). On top of the triumphal arch is an eagle holding a laurel wreath while standing on a gilded globe. This tranquil setting was the favorite dining room of Franz Joseph I. You can experience the emperor’s pleasure by eating at a café inside of Gloriette.
