Hellbrunn Palace: Baroque pleasures and sparkling surprises
Hellbrunn Palace in Salzburg is known for its impressive water features, which have delighted visitors for centuries. The cleverly hidden fountains and wells provide surprises and cooling at every corner of the extensive park. The magnificent pleasure palace itself, once built as a summer residence for the Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, invites you on a journey into the world of the Baroque. A visit that perfectly combines fun and history!
Short info:
- What is Hellbrunn Palace & the Trick Fountains? A pleasure palace and a unique water feature in Salzburg.
- Where is it located? Fürstenweg 37, 5020 Salzburg
- What is there to see there? Well-kept gardens, water features, and the castle museum.
- How much does the entrance fee cost? Adults 13,50€, children (4-18 years) 6€. Here you can find all prices. Salzburg Card holders receive free admission.
- When is it open? Open daily from April to October. Here you will find all times.
- How much time should I plan for? At least 2-3 hours.
Directions and Parking
Directly in front of the castle there is a large parkingBy the way, parking lot 2 is closer than parking lot 1. The maximum daily fee is 4€.
Also public you get to the pleasure palace. Bus line 25 from the main station in Salzburg or from the center (bus station “Rathaus”)
Tickets for Hellbrunn
We park shortly after 9:00 am and are thus one of the first visitors to the castle. We buy a ticket in the shop. A ticket is valid for the castle exhibition SchauLust with audio guide in various languages, water features with audio guide and tour of the Folklore Museum in the Monatsschlössl.
The water features take place every hour on the hour, the first at 10:00 a.m. So we have plenty of time to look at the castle first.
What exactly is a pleasure palace?
Hunting lodges are for hunting, residences for living and governing. Pleasure palaces, on the other hand, are for celebrations, pleasure and relaxation. They are representative holiday homes with parks and water features.
pleasure palaces were very popular in the 17th century. Hellbrunn Palace was also built in 1615 by Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus as a pleasure palace. Here he could have fun with his guests and recover from the stresses of everyday life.
Hellbrunn Palace
The permanent exhibition “SchauLust – The surprising world of Markus Sittikus” We find it a bit bizarre, but the rooms and furnishings are really worth seeing.
The exhibition reveals a multimedia staging of the carnival of 1618, the music room with an impressive music loop from Monteverdi's opera “L'Orfeo”, a interactive swivel sofa, the replica of a historical globe from 1613, the model of Hellbrunn Palace, the Room of Transience and even a life-size unicorn.
Markus Sittikus von Hohenems was a fascinating personality who had a significant influence on Salzburg in political, cultural and spiritual terms. Between 1612 and 1615 he had the magnificent Hellbrunn Palace built.
The water features of Hellbrunn
The water features of Hellbrunn Palace are a unique ensemble of water dispensers, grottos and fountainsThey were built in the 17th century by Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus to entertain and amaze his guests. The water features are visited by around 1.5 million visitors from all over the world every year and are now UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The water features are more than just a fun and wet experience. They are a masterpiece of engineering and a unique cultural jewel. The water features are a complex system of channels and pipes and are equipped with a variety of mechanical figures.
There is a lot to discover at the water features. Visitors can marvel at water-spouting deer, talking figures and even a musical fountain. The water features are an experience for all the senses and guarantee a few wet surprises. It's not just great fun for children!
explanation of the water features
The water features of Hellbrunn Palace consist of 21 water attractions, including:
- Water machines: These figures are moved by water power and perform various actions, such as playing music, talking or spraying water.
- Grottos: These artificial caves are equipped with water features and sculptures.
- Fountains: These fountains are decorated with water features and figures.
The tour
The water features can only be viewed as part of a tour. When you buy your ticket, you are assigned a time.
Our tour starts at 10:00 a.m. About 5 minutes later we reach the first highlight. Behind the pond there is a stone table with ten solid chairs, in the middle of which there is a long shaft. This brought joy to the guests who sat down here to cool their wine glasses. But there is also a hole in the middle of the stone chairs, which could splash the seated people from below without getting wet themselves. In the past, it was polite not to leave the table without being asked. Those who wanted to flee in panic were faced with a water barrier created by 87 hidden lead tubes in the floor.
Of course, we don’t sit there during the tour; this “fountain” is only demonstrated for us.
From this point on you continue with the audio guide alone
You always learn interesting things about the tour. But be careful where you go!
Water jets keep coming out of the floor, walls or statues. The water features are relatively harmless and are perfect for families with children.
What was particularly impressive for us was the Vogelsang Grotto. Its name comes from the artificially created bird sounds. The water is not only used here to splash or move objects, but also to create the illusion of birdsong and music. We quote the audio guide: “Behind this area is an extremely complex water-powered mechanism. In an adjacent room, a water wheel drives bellows that blow air into the wind chests of an organ. Valves open and close in a strange sound cylinder. These different air pulses flow to twelve pipes hidden in the Vogelsang Grotto. Each of these pipes is in a container filled with a certain amount of water. The interaction of air pulses, whistles and water level creates various bird sounds, including owls, quails, cuckoos and nightingales.”
On station 15 you will find the impressive large mechanical theaters, which dates back to the 19th century. Here, over 160 figures are presented in various groups, vividly depicting life in a small baroque town. The entire town comes to life thanks to water power. A charming water wheel sets wooden wheels in motion, which in turn bring 141 copper figures to life.
Please note that it is not recommended to stay here for too long, as there will also be a splash of water waiting for you at the end of the show.
After visiting 21 stations and spending about an hour, you reach the end of the water features. You can leave the gate into the castle garden, which is free to enter. The castle garden offers plenty of space to relax and offers a peaceful atmosphere.
The Gardens
After the water features, we want to stroll around the garden. The palace garden is an excellent example of baroque garden design. The paths are artistically laid out and the flowerbeds are decorated with colorful flowers and geometric patterns.
The castle garden houses a variety of flower beds, which bloom in different colors depending on the season. Roses, tulips, dahlias and many other flowers create a colorful backdrop. Visitors can use the extensive lawns in the castle garden to create a picnic or simply rest on a blanket. This is a popular activity to experience the peaceful atmosphere of the garden.
The garden features well-maintained walking paths and plenty of seating areas that allow visitors to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings in peace.
Centuries-old trees, including majestic lindens and beeches, provide shade and contribute to the harmonious atmosphere of the garden. The shady avenues are ideal for relaxing walks.
Directly from the castle garden you can also go straight into the Hellbrunn Zoo It takes about 10 minutes to walk and takes you directly to the entrance near the ibexes.
Sound of Music reference
Hellbrunn Palace is inextricably linked to The Sound of Music – it's home to the famous glass pavilion where Liesl and Rolf sing "Sixteen Going on Seventeen." Maria and the Captain also film their romantic scene "Something Good" here. The pavilion was originally located in the gardens of Leopoldskron Palace, but was moved to Hellbrunn after filming, where it can still be visited today. Many visitors come specifically to see this iconic location from the film and experience a piece of cinematic history.
If you want to learn more about everything Sound of MusicIf you'd like to learn about filming locations with exciting background information, read our article: The Ultimate Sound of Music Tour
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| day | opening hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 9:30 – 19:00 |
| Tuesday | 9:30 – 19:00 |
| Wednesday | 9:30 – 19:00 |
| Thursday | 9:30 – 19:00 |
| Friday | 9:30 – 19:00 |
| Saturday | 9:30 – 19:00 |
| Sunday | 9:30 – 19:00 |
Close by
Salzburg Hellbrunn Zoo
- Hellbrunnerstraße 60, 5081 Anif
