The gardens were designed to incorporate an allegorical system based on the four elements: earth, fire, air, and water.
Dominique Girard, the garden designer, was a student of André Le Nôtre, the mastermind behind the gardens of Versailles.
The garden contains a secret or private garden segment that was originally reserved for the personal use of Prince Eugene of Savoy.
The sculptural programs throughout the garden were specifically chosen to represent themes of Greek mythology.
The terrain transition between the Upper and Lower Belvedere involves a significant incline that was ingeniously integrated into the landscape design.
The Sphinxes located throughout the garden are stylistic signatures of the era's taste for Egyptian-inspired mystery.
The site predates the full completion of the Upper Belvedere palace, which was constructed to overlook the finished garden layout.
The Belvedere-Schlossgarten is a Baroque garden complex designed by Dominique Girard in 1717, connecting the Upper and Lower Belvedere palaces. The gardens are structured in three ascending tiers, representing the four elements via elaborate decorative themes. The design features symmetrical parterres, clipped hedges, and numerous sculptures, including sphinxes and deities by Giovanni Stanetti. A central water feature cascades down the slope between the palaces. The gardens remain a prime example of French-influenced landscape architecture in Central Europe. The site functions as a public space while maintaining its original 18th-century geometric layout.
The central gravel path looking upward from the Lower Belvedere toward the Upper Belvedere.
Walk from the Upper Belvedere down to the Lower Belvedere to enjoy the panoramic view of the city center framed by the palace architecture.
Visit the Alpine Garden, located within the Schlossgarten grounds, to see one of the oldest alpine plant collections in Europe.
Utilize the benches located along the shaded perimeter paths if you want to avoid the direct sun of the central parterres.
Attempting to photograph the entire garden in one frame is difficult; focus on the axial alignment between the two palaces instead.
The gardens follow seasonal daylight changes for opening and closing times.
Stay on marked gravel paths; picking flowers or climbing on sculptures is prohibited.
