{"id":166,"date":"2015-08-19T13:22:17","date_gmt":"2015-08-19T11:22:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=166"},"modified":"2026-01-31T12:54:57","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T11:54:57","slug":"wagenburg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/wagenburg\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wagenburg"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><a href=\"#tickets\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/wagenburgtickets.jpg\" alt=\"A carriage wheel\" class=\"wp-image-45477\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>To experience the extremes reached in Viennese court life, drop into the Imperial Carriage Museum (Wagenburg). No emperor ever said &#8220;keep it simple&#8221; to the carriage builder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Habsburg vehicles in their ornate glory<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Includes an Empress Elisabeth exhibition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Found in the Sch\u00f6nbrunn palace complex<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#tickets\">What special exhibitions are on<\/a>?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/imperial-carriage-museum-tickets-l145514\/?product=974060&amp;partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_Wagen\" rel=\"sponsored\">Carriage Museum tickets<\/a>* online<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/habsburgs\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"12848\">The Habsburgs for visitors<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overview of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/palace-of-schonbrunn\/\">Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/exhibitions\/#history\">History exhibitions<\/a> in Vienna<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Imperial carriages<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/carriages.jpg\" alt=\"Carriages\" class=\"wp-image-31117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/carriages.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/carriages-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Parts of the exhibition \u00a9 KHM-Museumsverband)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A giant hall houses what&#8217;s left of the Habsburg&#8217;s transport fleet; carriages, sleighs, and even a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Historical vehicles may not sound thrilling unless you have a special interest. But the Wagenburg gives you insight into court life, throws out some fascinating historical anecdotes, and demonstrates precisely what the words &#8220;ornate&#8221; and &#8220;lavish&#8221; mean (and &#8220;decadence,&#8221; frankly).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider, for example, the miniature carriages used by the children of the imperial family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These vehicles include a particularly decorative one for the King of Rome: the name given to Napoleon&#8217;s son by his second wife, Marie Louise, a daughter of Habsburg Emperor Franz II\/I.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sheep pulled it, apparently.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"310\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/carriage1912.jpg\" alt=\"Imperial carriage from 1912\" class=\"wp-image-73926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/carriage1912.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/carriage1912-300x186.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(An imperial carriage carrying Emperor Franz Joseph and Archduke Franz Ferdinand at the official procession of the 23rd Eucharistic Congress in Vienna on September 15th, 1912; photo published by the \u00d6sterreichische Photographische Gesellschaft; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 42840\/2; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You even encounter a leopard-skin sleigh (unfortunately, made from actual leopards, who probably needed the skins more than Prince Windisch-Graetz ever did).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Paintings reveal how the court would actually go on extravagant rides around the palace squares in sleighs built solely for that purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seeing artwork of the time holds a particular kind of fascination when you can also view the actual vehicles featured in those paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The court equerry in charge of the state carriages even got his own state carriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wonder if the gentleman in question was then responsible for his own vehicle. Anyway, I&#8217;m sure the peasants surviving on a turnip a day didn&#8217;t begrudge him his &#8220;company car&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><em>Ad:<\/em><p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Find tickets and experience options for the palace and zoo)<\/p><\/div><div data-tiqets-widget=\"discovery\" data-cards-layout=\"horizontal\" data-content-type=\"venue\" data-content-ids=\"145516,141990\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"DA_SchPal\"><\/div><script defer src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to get particularly close to royal history, keep a look out for the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The coach used by the famous <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/sisi\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34621\">Empress Elisabeth<\/a> when she first arrived in Vienna in 1854 prior to her marriage to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/franz-joseph\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"26307\">Emperor Franz Joseph<\/a>. Napoleon travelled in the same carriage when crowned King of Italy in 1805<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The black hearse carriage used in the funerals of Franz Joseph, Elisabeth, and their son, Crown Prince Rudolph<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The 1914 motor car used to take the last emperor into exile<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you think the late-18th and 19th century carriages are ornate, they prove dull and lifeless when compared to the explosion of decoration on their baroque predecessors.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wagenburg1.jpg\" alt=\"The Habsburg imperial carriage\" class=\"wp-image-56312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wagenburg1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/wagenburg1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The 18th-century &#8220;Imperialwagen&#8221;; press photo \u00a9 KHM-Museumsverband)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See, for example, the imperial coach used to carry the likes of Emperor Joseph II (1741 &#8211; 1790) to various formal coronation ceremonies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Somebody clearly ordered too much gold paint and the court motto of the time seemed to have been, &#8220;you can never have enough scrollwork&#8221;.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Empress Elisabeth trail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>They sometimes describe Empress Elisabeth (1837 -1898) as the Princess Diana of the 19th century, given their shared experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a notable bonus to your imperial experience, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/empress-elisabeth-exhibition\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"10966\">permanent exhibition<\/a> within the Wagenburg guides you through the life and character of &#8220;Sisi&#8221; with the help of videos and some impressive items that once belonged to the Empress or the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You view, for example, Elisabeth&#8217;s original bridal train, a couple of dresses, toiletry items and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, the Wagenburg serves as an important stop on any <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/empress-elisabeth\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"16956\">self-guided Sisi tour<\/a> of Vienna, particularly when combined with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/sisi-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2539\">Sisi Museum<\/a> in Vienna&#8217;s city centre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tickets\">Tickets, exhibitions &amp; tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tickets are available from the source or online agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Booking service provided by Tiqets.com*, who I am an affiliate of)<\/p><div data-tiqets-widget=\"availability\" data-product-id=\"974060\" data-partner=\"visitingvienna\" data-tq-campaign=\"AW_Wagen\" data-layout=\"full\"><\/div><script defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/widgets.tiqets.com\/loader.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Special exhibitions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The location has two permanent special exhibitions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/empress-elisabeth-exhibition\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"10966\">Empress Elisabeth exhibition<\/a> discussed above<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Imperial Speed<\/em>: the 2014 &#8220;ArtCar&#8221; racing car designed for the racing driver Ferdinand Habsburg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some further tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A Vienna Pass sightseeing pass (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/vienna-pass-review\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"3960\">my review<\/a>) includes one-time free access to the carriage museum<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Wagenburg shop sells a small selection of souvenirs and books (also in English)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Since you&#8217;re exploring imperial history, be sure to visit the wider Sch\u00f6nbrunn complex, too. In particular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Do the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/tour\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"161\">tour of the palace<\/a>, which includes remarkable rooms bursting with history and introduces you to the life of the imperial families (including Elisabeth and Franz Joseph)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>From the Wagenburg, continue out west for a circular walk <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/gardens-park\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"15260\">through the park<\/a> that takes in the landscaped areas around the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/palmhouse\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"141\">palm house<\/a> and back to the patterned gardens behind the palace proper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting to the Wagenburg<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>See the main article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/gettingthere\/\">directions to Sch\u00f6nbrunn<\/a> (easily reached from the centre on the U4 subway line). You&#8217;ll find the carriage museum in the grounds of the palace, a short walk due west of the main building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Schlo\u00df Sch\u00f6nbrunn, 1130 Vienna | <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kaiserliche-wagenburg.at\/\">Website<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1oN2SutdbrqOx-JViFyKk3v-X_Kw\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>To experience the extremes reached in Viennese court life, drop into the Imperial Carriage Museum (Wagenburg). No emperor ever said &#8220;keep it simple&#8221; to the carriage builder. Imperial carriages (Parts of the exhibition \u00a9 KHM-Museumsverband) A giant hall houses what&#8217;s left of the Habsburg&#8217;s transport fleet; carriages, sleighs, and even a car. Historical vehicles may [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34461,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10,16],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-166","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-schonbrunn","8":"category-museums","9":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=166"}],"version-history":[{"count":34,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":88413,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/166\/revisions\/88413"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34461"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}