Belvedere Palace

palace, Vienna, Austria

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

Belvedere Palace, located in Vienna, Austria, is a stunning example of Baroque architecture. Originally built in the early 18th century for Prince Eugene of Savoy, it consists of two palaces: the Lower and Upper Belvedere, set within formal gardens. The architect, Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, introduced the High Baroque style with French influences.12

The Upper Belvedere, considered Hildebrandt's finest work, houses the Belvedere Museum's permanent collection, featuring renowned artists like Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Vincent van Gogh. The Lower Belvedere and Orangery host temporary exhibitions, while the former stables display medieval art. The term "belvedere" itself means "beautiful view" in Italian, referring to structures built to offer scenic vistas. The palace was damaged in World War II but has since been restored.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Vienna
Layout and architecture
Another noble structure is the Belvedere, which is actually two Baroque palaces at either end of a terraced garden. It was built by Hildebrandt for the soldier and statesman Prince Eugene of Savoy. The Lower Belvedere (1714–16) was a summer garden palace, and the Upper (1721–24) was designed as a…
Read More
Another noble structure is the Belvedere, which is actually two Baroque palaces at either end of a terraced garden. It was built by Hildebrandt for the soldier and statesman Prince Eugene of Savoy. The Lower Belvedere (1714–16) was a summer garden palace, and the Upper (1721–24) was designed as a…
Read More