The picturesque hunting grounds on the site of today's Augarten park caught the eye of Emperor Leopold, who built a palace here, naming it “Favorita” – the “favorite.”
During the war with the Turks, this building was destroyed, but later, by order of Emperor Joseph II, the famous architect Fischer von Erlach built a new magnificent Baroque palace here. In the halls of Augarten, great composers gave concerts: Mozart, Wagner, Strauss, Liszt, and it was within these walls that Beethoven's Kreutzer Sonata was first performed, with the author himself playing it.
Today, music still fills Augarten Palace — it is now home to the special boarding school of the Vienna Boys' Choir.
The building is closed to visitors, but there is an opportunity to visit the world-famous Vienna Porcelain Manufactory, which is located in the building of the former palace concert hall. Here you can admire the creations of porcelain masters, learn about the manufacturing process, and even buy wonderful gifts for yourself and your loved ones: tea and coffee sets, table lamps, or elegant figurines.
