The Belvedere
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Prince Eugen of Savoy, the most celebrated of the Habsburg generals due to his defeat of the Turks in 1683, commissioned the two Belvedere Palaces (Upper and Lower) with the money he received as a reward for his victories during the Spanish Succession. The payment allowed him to carry out one of the most ambitious building projects ever undertaken by a private individual. The palaces were built by Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1714–23 as a summer residence for the prince and are a shining example of Baroque style.
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1. Orangery
The Orangery houses the Museum of Austrian Medieval Art and contains Gothic and Renaissance masterpieces, including the Stummerberg Crucifix, the oldest surviving example of Tyrolean woodcarving.
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2. Lower Belvedere
2. Lower BelvedereThe Museum of Austrian Baroque Art is housed in the rooms of the Lower Belvedere, formerly used by Prince Eugen as his living quarters.
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3. Marble Gallery
This grandiose room contains works by Georg Raphael Donner and the original lead figures of the Providentia Fountain, now on Hoher Markt.
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4. Mirror Cabinet
A statue of Prince Eugen of Savoy stands in this Lower Belvedere room. The walls are entirely covered by huge gilt-framed mirrors.
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5. French Gardens
The French-style gardens link the palaces. The three levels each convey classical allusions: the lower part represents the Four Elements, the centre, Parnassus and the upper section, Olympus.
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6. Garden Statues
Among the numerous statues, the Eight Muses and the Sphinxes are the most outstanding.
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7. Sala Terrena
Its manifold architectural forms and sculptures make this Upper Belvedere hall one of the finest Baroque entrances. Four Herculean figures sculpted by Lorenzo Mattielli support the ceiling vault.
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8. Stairways
In the centre of the magnificent Upper Belvedere entrance hall are the Baroque stairways, which lead to the ceremonial room.
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9. Marble Hall
The central room of the Upper Belvedere was used for receptions and state occasions. The Austrian State Treaty was signed here in 1955.
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10. Upper Belvedere Façade
10. Upper Belvedere FaçadeThe Upper Belvedere’s elaborate façade dominates the sweeping entrance. Its domed copper roofs resemble the shape of Turkish tents as a symbolic reflection of Prince Eugen’s victory.
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