{"id":51188,"date":"2022-09-30T05:13:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-30T04:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=51188"},"modified":"2025-10-27T10:30:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T09:30:44","slug":"vr-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/vr-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Schloss Sch\u00f6nbrunn VR experience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>At the time of writing (October 2025), the VR experience was no longer being offered at Sch\u00f6nbrunn. Check locally for a possible return, and consider some other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/vr-multimedia-immersive\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"57016\">VR &amp; immersive attractions<\/a> in Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Previous review:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/vrschoenbrunnsmall.jpg\" alt=\"Monarch in VR glasses\" class=\"wp-image-51185\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/vrschoenbrunnsmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/vrschoenbrunnsmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Vienna may have resisted the Ottoman army in 1683, but not the rise of virtual reality attractions centuries later. One is the Schloss Sch\u00f6nbrunn VR experience in the crown prince apartment of Sch\u00f6nbrunn palace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A journey through 220+ years of Habsburg history<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Animations, film-like views, and full VR immersion<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on Habsburg personalities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/palace-of-schonbrunn\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1672\">Sch\u00f6nbrunn Palace and Park<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/vr-multimedia-immersive\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"57016\">Immersive experiences in Vienna<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A VR trip up the Habsburg tree<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr3.jpg\" alt=\"Empress Elisabth scene from the Sch\u00f6nbrunn VR film\" class=\"wp-image-51184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr3.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr3-300x217.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\">(Press photo \u00a9 FILMFINITY GMBH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After settling in place with my headset, everything started with a sweeping aerial journey across the gardens of Sch\u00f6nbrunn and into the palace. These dynamic VR segments always give me goose bumps; the rest of the experience was, however, gentler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After a short introduction to the origins of the palace building, the bulk of the show largely concerned the history of the more recent Habsburg monarchy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The VR production covered a period that starts with Emperor Leopold I (1640-1705). For all his achievements, I remember Leopold most for running away before the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/the-1683-siege-of-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29264\">siege of Vienna<\/a>. The show then ended with Emperor Franz Joseph&#8217;s passing in 1916.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That&#8217;s a lot of history to pack into the 24-minute running time. So if you&#8217;re already very familiar with the Habsburg story, you won&#8217;t discover much new.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr2.jpg\" alt=\"Scene from the Sch\u00f6nbrunn VR film\" class=\"wp-image-51183\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr2.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr2-300x217.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\">(Press photo \u00a9 FILMFINITY GMBH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But if you&#8217;re visiting Austrian history from afar, you&#8217;ll get a swift overview of some of the important personalities and stories of recent Imperial history, with a strong focus on Emperor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/franz-joseph\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"26307\">Franz Joseph<\/a> and (particularly) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/sisi\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34621\">Empress Elisabeth<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, while based within the Sch\u00f6nbrunn complex, the presentation looked more at the Habsburg dynasty than the palace they built (after all, you can see the latter on a physical tour next door).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Part of the experience involved animations and transitions, part film sequences (though it feels like you&#8217;re watching in an old theatre), and part full VR immersion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The VR elements see you positioned within the scene and able to look around as if you were really there when, for example, Franz Joseph wed Elisabeth or Empress Maria Theresa extolled her plans for the Sch\u00f6nbrunn gardens.<\/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>This VR attraction opened after a two-year development process that included accurate reproduction of hundreds of clothes and props for the use of dozens of actors, as well as scanning, for example, palace rooms to support digital replication of true-to-era locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My headgear was comfortable and required no tricky calibration; you really don&#8217;t need to worry about the technology. Besides, a very friendly member of staff was on hand to ensure all was set up with my preferred language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bonus is the location: the Kronprinzenappartement (crown prince apartment) of the palace, which visitors normally don&#8217;t get to see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My seat was in a room with red damask (?) wall coverings, but other rooms in the apartment are painted with landscapes and classical architectural features&#8230;first created by Johann Wenzel Bergl back in the 18th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(You find &#8220;Bergl rooms&#8221; in Sch\u00f6nbrunn&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/childrensmuseum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"119\">Children&#8217;s Museum<\/a>, too.)<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr1.jpg\" alt=\"Visitors wearing VR googles\" class=\"wp-image-51182\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/schoenbrunnvr1-300x217.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\">(Press photo \u00a9 FILMFINITY GMBH)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The crown prince name refers (I think) to its final occupant, Rudolf. He also appeared in one of the more tragic stories within the VR experience. The son of Franz Joseph and Elisabeth should have acceded to the throne, but died before his time in Mayerling in 1889.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The role of heir passed shortly after to Rudolf&#8217;s cousin, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, whose assassination in 1914 precipitated World War I (Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/heeresgeschichtliches\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"13073\">Heeresgeschichtliches museum<\/a> has the car he was travelling in at the time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tickets\">Tickets &amp; visitor tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The VR experience is a standalone attraction within Sch\u00f6nbrunn palace that requires its own ticket. You don&#8217;t have to also take a physical tour of the same palace building (though I recommend you do).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As mentioned above, the virtual reality presentation immerses you in the life of various Habsburgs, while a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/tour\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"161\">palace tour<\/a> immerses you in the location itself (with insight into the lives of Elisabeth and Franz Joseph given you pass through their former living quarters)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, you really might want to do both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If buying tickets on site, the ticket booth for the VR experience was inside the palace entrance hall itself on my visit (see directions below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More VR and Habsburgs<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/schatzkammerentrance.jpg\" alt=\"Entrance to the Schatzkammer\" class=\"wp-image-43198\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/schatzkammerentrance.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/schatzkammerentrance-300x225.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 unassuming home to the Imperial crown jewels and more)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Should you like the virtual reality aspect, then Vienna has several other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/vr-multimedia-immersive\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"57016\">VR options<\/a>, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/footsteps\/sisi-amazing-journey\/\">Sisi&#8217;s Amazing Journey<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/time-travel-tour\/\">Time Travel Vienna<\/a>, that allow you to go back to the past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And if you enjoy your Habsburg history, then a number of other locations might be worth a look in addition to the palace itself. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/winter-palace\/sisi-museum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"2539\">Sisi museum<\/a>: a tour through the life of Empress Elisabeth, including the former imperial apartments in the central Hofburg complex and the silver collection<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/wagenburg\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"166\">Wagenburg carriage museum<\/a>: just a short walk from the palace and still inside the Sch\u00f6nbrunn park. It features a permanent Empress Elisabeth exhibition<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/museums\/schatzkammer\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"256\">Schatzkammer<\/a> imperial treasury: Habsburg history measured out in crowns, jewels and the regalia of rule<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get there<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/schonbrunn\/gettingthere\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"122\">directions for Sch\u00f6nbrunn<\/a>. Once inside the main courtyard, look for the palace tour entrance at the far left corner of the huge fa\u00e7ade in front of you. Go inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The VR experience ticket booth was on the left just before the small shop. The entrance to the actual &#8220;theatre&#8221; is at the back of that hall, also on the left. Signs make it all very clear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Schloss Sch\u00f6nbrunn, 1130 Vienna<\/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>At the time of writing (October 2025), the VR experience was no longer being offered at Sch\u00f6nbrunn. Check locally for a possible return, and consider some other VR &amp; immersive attractions in Vienna. Previous review: Vienna may have resisted the Ottoman army in 1683, but not the rise of virtual reality attractions centuries later. One [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":51185,"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],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-51188","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-schonbrunn","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51188","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\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51188"}],"version-history":[{"count":27,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86678,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51188\/revisions\/86678"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51185"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}