Schloss Laxenburg- A playground for adults

   Shouting across a table a few weeks ago, music blaring, a picnic place for our 'summer of picnics' was recommended- Schloss Laxenburg. A beautiful summer water palace built for Maria Teresia in 1753, located about 8 km outside of Vienna.

   We have had mixed luck over the years with destinations; as day-trip enthusiasts we have visited hidden jewels but also nearly abandoned towns with derelict one room museums containing odd collections. A two hour trip to a previously unknown destination holds, therefore, the slight hesitancy as to whether it will actually be worth the four hours in the car. Many Schlösser, such as my beloved Eggenberg are wonderful but small. Places that can be visited in a few hours rather than a day. Laxenburg however is not. Covering 250 hecters, the grounds are much more extensive than the town just outside the gates, a Narniaesque juxtaposition where the inside is actually bigger than the outside. And within this enormous park lies a lake lined with willow trees and little stone bridges surrounding the palace itself.

 A chunks, humorous little building, it sports the style of a fortress, while possessing the physical size of a mid sized country estate. Its battlements soar a mere one story from the ground and the grand gates lead from one small courtyard to another.  We arrived by ferry but left on a small foot bridge on the opposite side of the island.

   An Eiskaffee at the cafe just inside the palace gave me an opportunity to do a few sketches in the small sketchbook I had brought with me. Sketches which will need to be finished at home due to the amount of walking and the general lack of sitting done in the park.

   Leaving the Island by the aforementioned bridge, we walked through a woodland, past a jousting place, to a small waterfall. It is interesting that although the parking area was quite full there was almost complete peace in the park. Most people stayed around the central island, paddling small boats around and reveling in the delights of being on the water on a summer's day. It is a place for boating rather than for swimming.

The stand for the queen to observe the knights

By the waterfall we encountered a few people who stayed a few minutes before continuing on their way. White benches line the pathways of the park creating a seating area a just the right place no matter where you want a break. We sat by the waterfall for a bit enjoying it.

The waterfall is fed by a slow moving canal filled with moss. The surface dotted with the nervous movements of brilliant blue dragonflies darting to and fro. Great plates of moss turned the water a deep emerald.

   How far this canal would have taken us I have no idea, presumably right out of the park, if we had followed it. We turned off however, cutting back toward the main paths and the entrance. With so many things as yet still unseen we left the park after four or five hours of pleasant rejuvenation. It is definitely on the list of places to visit again. Maybe with a sketchbook and a friend one day, with the goal to just do sketches. In the meantime, I have about 200 reference photos should I need them.

Have you been to Schloss Laxenburg? Do you have a favorite palace or park you love to visit or paint and sketch at? Let me know in the comments.

If you enjoed this post you might also enjoy other of my location based posts:
- Schloss Lustbühl- So close and yet so far away
- Schloss Eggenberg- The World behind the wall
- Photographic tour of the US Botanical Gardens
- Discover Europe through Art


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