The Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens are one of the most visited attractions in Salzburg. Sure, there are palaces all over Europe, each one filled with opulent rooms and surrounded by grand gardens but this one has a secret (and a very fun one at that). Schloss Hellbrunn was built from 1613-1515 by Archbishop Markus Sittikus and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Renaissance structures north of the Alps. Built solely for the purpose of entertainment the Hellbrunn Palace and its gardens were used to host extravagant parties as well as musical and theater performances. The palace is still quite popular today and hosts a festive Christmas Market as well as a number of events and weddings throughout the year.
Markus Sittikus was a known lover of Italian art and culture and charged Santino Solari, who built the Salzburg Cathedral, with the construction of his pleasure palace. Italian influences are found not just in the palace but around the gardens as well. Throughout the grounds you’ll find fountains, statues and frescoed grottos that look like they were taken from the hills of Florence. The theme here is Greek mythology with Neptune and Diana among other Greek deities calling Hellbrunn home.
Now it appears that the good Archbishop Markus Sittikus loved water and featured ponds and fountains prominently throughout the gardens.
He also had quite a wicked sense of humor, it seems.
Throughout the gardens are the famous trick fountains, or Wasserspiele. Designed to surprise and entertain unsuspecting guests (and thoroughly amuse the good Archbishop), the trick fountains have been delighting visitors for over 400 years. Rumor has it that no dinner guest was allowed to get up if the Archbishop was seated. Next to the head of the table were hidden controls,the fountains were rigged so everyone would get wet except him. The system of pumps was quite sophisticated for its time making the fountains the ultimate Baroque status symbol and toy all in one.
Aside from the great fun of the trick fountains the Hellbrunn Gardens are just a lovely place to walk around. The gardens, again designed in an Italianate style, marry art and the natural surroundings making the area a delight to enjoy whether you’re a 17th century courtesan or a modern day traveler.
Oh, and this yellow house? You can thank the good Archbishop for this one too. A guest once commented that the view from the palace would be greatly enhanced by a building on the mountain.
Challenge accepted.
When that guest returned a month later the good Archbishop had completed the building giving it the moniker of Monatschlössl, or the “little month-palace”. It now houses the folk culture collection of the Salzburg Museum.
While there are so many sights in and around Salzburg I think it would be a shame to miss the Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens. Located on the southern edge of Salzburg away from the bustling Altstadt, or Old Town, you can easily reach this area through Salzburg’s efficient bus system. Be sure to get a Salzburg Card, which includes public transportation as well as entrance to this and many of Salzburg’s top attractions . Adjacent to the Hellbrunn Palace is the Salzburg Zoo making the area a great outing for families.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Hellbrunn Palace and Gardens and the trick fountains were a wonderful surprise. What marvelous fountains have you encountered on your travels?
Website
http://www.hellbrunn.at/en/
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Kate and Mike says
Love the post, and the pictures. With the whimsical fountain features and the wide open spaces, it looks like yet another family travel option in lovely Salzburg! We are sharing your post on our social media channels.
We were there in winter, so most of the fountains we ran across were understandably dry. Here is our Top Ten list for family travel options in Salzburg. http://exploretheworldwithyourkids.com/salzburg-austria/
Your Salzburg posts are inspiring us to consider a return to this charming city to check out places we did not visit on our first trip there!
Corinne says
Brianna, Love your photos! There’s nothing better than wandering around a random palace and imagining yourself a queen.
Brianna says
Thanks Corinne, I’m just waiting for the rest of the world to realize it:)
Vanessa says
Great place and interesting statues. I love those Greek Mythology Gods. Thy are perfect in that Garden.
Brianna says
It was such a lovely place to walk around
Mindi @ 2foodtrippers says
I like the trick fountains, though I don’t think I’d like them if I were a dinner guest.
Brianna says
Unless I was at the head of the table 🙂
Jen says
What a beautiful garden. The fountains and water features are gorgeous!
Brianna says
Going to see if I can put some trick fountains in my yard 🙂
Emily says
I like the sound of this Archbishop! Some of the statues housing the fountains are really quite surreal!
Brianna says
He sounds like he’d be fun to hang around 🙂
Chris says
These statues are great. I would have loved to have gone to one of those extravagant parties here back in the day!
Brianna says
I’d be willing to go to an extravagant party today 🙂
Els says
I might go to Salzburg in February, it should look lovely in the snow I imagine. Wow, these gardens and statues are gorgeous! Reminds me a bit of the Schonbrunn palace in Vienna.
Brianna says
I enjoyed Austria very much
Amanda C @ UnrestingSea says
So beautiful!
Brianna says
I loved strolling through these gardens
melody pittman says
Loved it! The pictures are spectacular! I encountered many trick fountains in Russia, my favorite at Peterhov. They even had a silly one that had a worker controlling the waters and the kids were playing and just loving it. The first fountain picture you show is fantastic.
Brianna says
Thanks Melody, its easy to take great pictures in such a beautiful place!
Molly S says
Sounds like the Archbishop had a sense of humour! I love fountains, and those look pretty spectacular. Beautiful photos!
Brianna says
I bet he’d be a hoot to hang out with!
Samantha says
I love the fountain statues! The gardens looks lovely in fall, but I think I’d like to visit in Spring. Looks like a great place to practice photography!
Kristen Sarra says
Haha I totally feel that I would have been the trickster spraying everyone with water. I’ve have to add that to my master plans of my dream home.
Brianna says
Heehee, me too 🙂
Adelina // Pack Me To says
I love gardens like these! They’re so much fun to wander and explore. Those trick fountains look pretty cool.
Colleen Brynn says
Ah, I missed this gem when I was in Salzburg. Perhaps I have to go back…
I had a little chuckle at the trick fountains, ha!
Brianna says
Any excuse to go back to Salzburg is a good one I say.
Elena says
What fun those parties must have been!
Brianna says
I just wouldn’t want to walk around the rest of the night in a wet hoop skirt!
Hannah says
Gorgeous! I visited in 2011 and although none of the fountains were on (but the fish were still in the pools…under a layer of ice!) there were Christmas Markets which were awesome!
Brianna says
You’ll just have to go back when its warmer then 🙂
Maria from Nerd Nomads says
This garden looks lovely!! I love gardens like these, so green and lush with beautiful statues and fountains. The trick fountains look awesome! I kind of like the Archbishop, seems like he had a great sense of humour, hehe.
Brianna says
He sounds like someone I’d like to hang with 🙂
Bente Vold Klausen says
What a beautiful place! All these different fountains make up a great collection of art as well.
Brianna says
They are each works of art in themselves
Emma says
Well this looks like a pretty place! I especially like the idea of the trick fountains…that would make me giggle 🙂
Brianna says
It really was a fun place to explore.
Becks says
Hi Brianna
Nice post. Beautiful gardens with some very interesting statues. I love the trick fountains, so funny! I don’t think I’ve ever come across any trick fountains made for that purpose, but I have wandered across town squares in various cities and been caught out when the water turns on – or maybe that’s the trick to catch out the tourists? 🙂
Brianna says
Can you imagine what a spectacle it must have been back in the 1600s?
Alejandra Gil says
If I could travel in time I would definitely go to the 1600’s just to meet the Archbishop and be randomly sprayed at the table, sounds like he knows how to have a good time. Thanks for sharing, loved the pictures! — coming back to 2014 I would love to visit that place!
Jenna says
So, so pretty, but I’ve never seen a trick fountain before. Fun!
Brianna says
I went expecting something touristy and really didn’t expect to like it so much. As a stand alone garden it really is beautiful, but the trick fountains add such a fun twist!
christine says
I love palaces but especially the gardens. They are always so beautiful.
Claudia says
It seems like a really interesting place to visit. I love the gardens and the fountains, and the history behind the fountains too. Must be lovely in the spring 🙂
Bianca (@ItsAllBee) says
what a beautiful place! Looks like you had the place to your self too.
Tim says
I used to take people to this palace years ago when I was a tour guide in Europe. Such a gorgeous place. Would get folks to sit on the stone seats around the garden table and eventually water would shoot up. I think some expected it but for the others the expressions were priceless.
Elena says
Nice photos! Austria is all about palaces, great architecture and lovely parks and gardens!
Lauren says
Beautiful grounds and statues! It would be great to walk around and explore.
Adrian of Adrian's Travel Tales says
What FUN statues. I love a place with a plethora of them and it seems like you found a mecca. The deer/buck head is my favorite though. What a fun place to explore!
Carissa @ Start Wandering says
Seeing destinations like this really makes me wish I was a part of the yesteryear where statues and gardens were a part of the every day front yard. I love the quaint yet over the top buildings and their decorations from this era. It makes me feel like I am in a secret garden surrounded with lush greenery and the spout of water
Brianna says
They really did have an eye for beauty back then didn’t they?
alexa says
Great photo essay. Would love to hear about your photography set up.
Brianna says
Thanks! I’ve got a Canon Rebel XTi
Andi says
I have never had the opportunity to visit Austria and really want to get there one day. I am always amazed that places like these are still standing with all the bombing, etc. during the World Wars. Grounds like here are a playground for photographers as well!
Brianna says
I was surprised how much I enjoyed Austria, its a gorgeous country!
Susan says
Such a beautiful palace! I could only imagine living somewhere so peaceful and visually stunning. Renaissance style is just one of my favorites and this is just masterful. I love your photos of the gardens!
Brianna says
Thanks so much Susan, I was surprised how pretty Hellbrunn and the rest of Salzburg was.
Steven Moore says
Hi there.
Was already high on the list, but looking at your photos, it just got a little higher.
Thanks for sharing.
Brianna says
Its a beautiful place to visit(and live!).
Sumit Surai says
What excellent architecture! Loved the pictures
Brianna says
Thanks Sumit, it was a beautiful area to wander around in
Revati Victor says
Just goes to show, a garden is not a garden is not a garden. I’m comparing this to so many of the gardens I’ve been to, and each one is so unique. From the ambiance to even the kind of greenery they have.
Brianna says
There is a unique beauty in each garden I visit.
Milosz Zak says
I’m very impressed, that garden system must have been very expensive and difficult to maintain, I’m glad you paid specific attention to that.
Brianna says
It is even more impressive in person!
Bec says
Hellbrunn Palace and trick fountains was one of the highlights of my trip to Salzburg! I went in Summer time and it was so much fun (getting wet that is!). I would highly recommend it to anyone! I wrote a post about it on my blog as well, so feel free to check it out! 🙂
Brianna says
I went in the fall so thankfully avoided getting wet but the fountains were my favorite part of my trip as well. I didn’t know that the elks near the beginning also spouted water from their horns, I missed that!