Belvedere Museum Vienna

The Belvedere is a historic building complex consisting of two Baroque palaces — the Upper and Lower Belvedere — set in a formal garden in the third district of Vienna. Built in the early eighteenth century as a summer residence for Prince Eugene of Savoy, the Belvedere is regarded as one of the finest examples of Baroque architecture in Central Europe. Today it functions as one of Austria’s leading art museums and cultural institutions. The Upper Belvedere is the more famous of the two palaces and houses the museum’s permanent collection of Austrian art from the Middle Ages to the present day. Its most celebrated highlights include the world’s largest collection of works by Gustav Klimt, including the iconic painting The Kiss, widely considered one of the most recognised artworks in the world. Alongside Klimt, the museum holds significant works by Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka, and other key figures of Viennese Modernism. The Lower Belvedere hosts temporary exhibitions and the Baroque Museum, which includes the Golden Cabinet and the Hall of Marble. The Orangery and the stable building are used for additional exhibition spaces and event venues. The formal gardens between the two palaces, modelled on Versailles and featuring fountains, sculptures, and reflecting pools, are a popular destination in their own right and offer sweeping views across Vienna. The Belvedere also operates a dedicated research centre and regularly hosts educational programmes, evening events, and international loan exhibitions. It is an essential destination for anyone seeking to understand the cultural and artistic heritage of Austria.