Austria's cultural partnership: Schönbrunn meets Himeji in Osaka!

Austria's cultural partnership: Schönbrunn meets Himeji in Osaka!

Schloss Schönbrunn, 1130 Wien, Österreich - The Schönbrunn Group recently consolidated its partnership with the Japanese Castle Himeji, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. This significant event took place as part of the Austrian day on the Expo 2025 in Osaka, which was celebrated on May 23, 2025. Representatives: Interior of the Federal Ministry of Economics, Energy and Tourism as well as the Schönbrunn Group set a sign of international cooperation and cultural exchange. According to leadersnet were among the president Alexander van der Bellen and Federal Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, which underlined the importance of this initiative.

Austria has been represented at the Expo since April 13, 2025 with a pavilion, which is under the motto "Composing the Future". The partnership between Schönbrunn and Himeji Castle should concentrate on cultural education, joint projects and sustainable tourism. The aim is to maintain the cultural heritage for future generations and use innovative technologies to support this mission.

cultural education and tourism in focus

Klaus Panholzer, CEO of the Schönbrunn Group, emphasized the positive influence of the expert: interior exchange on both world sites. Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer sees this partnership as an important impulse for the strategic positioning of Austria in global cultural tourism. Alexander Palma, head of section for cultural heritage, highlighted the importance of the agreement for cultural exchange and relationships between Austria and Japan.

Schönbrunn Castle itself, a popular destination, offers much more than just its impressive architecture. The garden follows the principles of baroque gardening and was closely linked to the castle architecture. In particular, the large ground floor, converted in the course of the expansion of the Schönbrunner mountain, is a particularly impressive part of the garden.

historical elements of the garden

The garden houses numerous statues, including mythological and historical figures such as Rhea Kybele, Alexander and Olympia as well as Hercules. These were made by renowned artists such as Christian Wilhelm Beyer and Johann Baptist Hagenauer. The monument to Philipp Franz Siebold and the bronze bust, which Maria Theresia commissioned in 1766, underline the historical importance of the castle and its gardens.

In addition, the comprehensive garden design, which was created under Maria Theresia in the 1770s, contributes to the uniqueness of the property. The Neptune Fountain, the Engelsbrunnen and the Roman ruin are just a few of the many attractions that attract visitors. The Schönbrunner Panoramabahn enables guests to explore the diverse sights of the 160 hectare world cultural heritage.

Overall, the new partnership between Schönbrunn and Himeji Castle is not only a symbolic step towards international cultural exchange, but also contributes to the mutual conservation and promotion of the cultural heritage between the two countries.