You only see what you know (Goethe)
The Renaissance castle in the style of an Italian palazzi dates back to the 16th century. It houses a museum for local history and a female ghost. Porcia Castle (Schloss Porcia) is notorious for the White Lady Katharina of Salamanca, who is said to be cursed to haunt the rooms.
On my walk through Spittal an der Drau, I peeped into the courtyard of Porcia Castle (Schloss Porcia). Preparations for a theatre festival took place right at this moment. I guess such a Renaissance court is an excellent location for a classical stage play.
The palace, placed next to a lake named Wörthersee, was built at the end of the 16th century by Bartholomäus Khevenhüller. Since 1890, it has mainly been a hotel. In the 1990s, it became famous for being the set of the German TV series ‘Ein Schloss am Wörthersee’, aka ‘Lakeside Hotel’.
Topoľčianky Palace (Zámok Topoľčianky) used to be the summer retreat of the first president of Czechoslovakia. Near the castle, you find a stud for Lipizzaner horses and a reserve for European Bisons. [German]
Linderhof Palace (Schloss Linderhof) is the smallest of the three palaces built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It is remarkable for its French interior style. Its fanciful castle grounds with an artificial grotto, a mythical tree inside a hut, and a Moorish kiosk are also worth a visit.
Palais Schwarzenberg is a Baroque palace near Belvedere Palace (Schloss Belvedere). The architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach completed the building in 1728.
Main gate in front of the Upper Belvedere Palace (Oberes Belvedere). The lions are showing the crest of Prince Eugene of Savoy. He was the first owner of the palace. Today the Upper Belvedere houses a great collection of paintings.
Benrath Palace (Schloss Benrath) saw its construction between 1755 and 1773. The number of floors differs between the outside and the courtyard side. The servants’ rooms on the inside are lower than the staterooms on the outside.
View of Schönbrunn Palace (Schloss Schönbrunn) taken from the Gloriette. Inside there are two different self guide-tours for getting in touch with the state apartments of the Imperial family. So you will see the office where Emperor Franz Joseph I. used to work. You will also discover how simple the bed of the emperor was.
On a cold winter day I walked through the gardens of the summer palace of Prince Eugene. The Upper Belvedere Palace (Oberes Belvedere) as shown above was only used for representation.
The New Residence (Neue Residenz) of the Bamberg Prince-Bishops has over 40 staterooms featuring stucco-work ceilings. The furniture and the tapestries originate from the 17th and 18th centuries. The rose garden of the residence offers a fine view of Michelsberg Abbey.