Schloss Hellbrunn, Salzburg

Hellbrun Palace was built as a summer residence by prince-bishop Marcus Sitticus. The purpose of our visit was to see the palace’s main attractions, chiefly the surprise fountains in the garden. The bishop had the idea of having them built following a stay in Rome; unfortunately for his visitors he took the surprise to extreme. Unexpectedly, water would suddenly gush out from the stone seats and soak his guests sitting at the table in the Roman theatre – except for the bishop himself, who was greatly amused at the joke. Take care, the guides on my visit shared the bishop’s sense of humour; watch out too for surprises in the various grottos.

April, October, November: 9:00 am to 4:30 pm
May, June, September: 9:00 am to 5:30 pm
July and August: 9:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Adults: 10.50 EUR
Children (4 - 18): 5.00 EUR

email info@hellbrunn.at

Schloss Hellbrunn was built early in the 17th century by Santino Solari as the prince-archbishops pleasure palace. The castle has some really fascinating rooms, including an octagonal music room and a banquet hall with a trompe-l'oeil ceiling. When visiting the gardens, you will not believe the the realm of fantasy that the grand Salzburg archbishops indulged in. Really makes you think.... hmm. The Monatsschlösschen, the old hunting lodge, contains an excellent folklore museum. The palace deer park now includes a zoo featuring free-flying vultures and Alpine animals that largely roam unhindered. Quite a thing to visit

The Schloss Hellbrunn or Hellbrunn Palace is one of the most sought out sights or attractions in Salzburg today. It was the built from a concept by Prince Archbishop Markus Sittikus in three short years spanning 1613-1615. It was the work ofItalian architect Santino Solari. It boasts all of the fine features expected of a palace at the time, but has one very unusual exception that sets it apart and it is this exception that brings the crowds to visit Hellbrunn in their droves today.
The gardens at Schloss Hellbrunn conceal a mass of fountains which can turn on at any time and completely saturate all who are anywhere near them. One fountain is set around an outdoor dining table and spurts up between all the guest's chairs giving them a thorough drenching whilst the host sits high and dry at the head of the table. Not my idea of fun when dressed up for an elegant dinner party, but as a fun place to go on a hot summer's day, the gardens are exceptional and so much fun.

Opening hours 2011:
Trick fountains, palace, folklore museum.
April, October, November 1: 9 am-4:30*pm
May, June, September: 9 am-5:30*pm
July, August: 9 am-6*pm
July, August: evening tours trick fountains: 7 pm, 8 pm, 9 pm
*beginning of last tour, guided tours every half an hour,
duration of tour: trick fountains 30-40 min., palace 20 min.

Admission fees 2011:
Guided tour of the trick fountains, palace with audio guide, folklore museum.
Adults € 9.50
Children and pupils (4-18 years) € 4.50
Students € 6.50
Groups of 20 adults or more € 7.50
Families (2 adults and 2 children) € 24.00
One time free admission with the Salzburg Card!
Admission to park and orangery free.

Combined ticket: Zoo Salzburg, trick fountains, Hellbrunn palace, folklore museum
Adults € 17.00
Children (4-14 years ) € 7.90
Families (2 adults and 2 children) € 46.00
Groups (adults) € 15.00
One time free admission with the Salzburg Card!

I could not believe it. Another place where I had to climb more stairs than what is good for me. By now I have had all the excercise I can get for a whole year, is this going to stop. A lovely excursion though, thourougly enjoyed it.

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According to legend it was constructed in only one month - thus the name: the Month Palace.

Even today the still fascinating, full of surprises, trick fountains, allows you to relive the wonderful times of the famous Salzburg Prince Archbishop.
As in the old days the world-famous Hellbrunn trick fountains perform their special magic. The only original water-machine still preserved in Europe invites you into a world of mythology and illusion. One approaches the grotto on a path, from which water jets squirt from both sides, they so form an archway, so that the visitors can walk right through. When leaving the grotto the guide turns on these water jets and the visitors jump fast, still dry, beneath the archway. But not without getting wet by further splashes which change their direction in unexpected ways, of course just then, when the visitors think that they are safe from a further wetting.

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According to legend it was constructed in only one month - thus the name: the Month Palace.

Even today the still fascinating, full of surprises, trick fountains, allows you to relive the wonderful times of the famous Salzburg Prince Archbishop.
As in the old days the world-famous Hellbrunn trick fountains perform their special magic. The only original water-machine still preserved in Europe invites you into a world of mythology and illusion. One approaches the grotto on a path, from which water jets squirt from both sides, they so form an archway, so that the visitors can walk right through. When leaving the grotto the guide turns on these water jets and the visitors jump fast, still dry, beneath the archway. But not without getting wet by further splashes which change their direction in unexpected ways, of course just then, when the visitors think that they are safe from a further wetting.

In 1976, we took a City Tour to Hellbrun Castle and saw the trick fountains

My grandmother wrote to my mother,

This afternoon we went on a city tour including Hellbrunn Castle with all the fun showers of water that the guide turns on - we wore raincoats - it wasn't very wet tho

* Fountains - trick with a guide
* Palace with an audio-guide
* Tour of the Museum of Ethnic Studies

ADMISSION PRICES 2008 (incl. 10% VAT):
Adults 8,50 €
Students (19-26 years) 6,00 €
Children/Pupils (4-18 years) 3,80 €
Family ticket (2 adults + 2 children) 21,50 €
OPENING TIMES DAILY:
March, April, October* 9am - 4.30pm**
May, June, September 9am - 5.30pm**
July, August 9am - 10pm**

* Season opens on March 20th. Open Until November 2th.
** Start of the last tour

Exclusive tours on request

This attractive house and gardens is well worth seeing, but only open in the Summer months. Choose a sunny day to visit, or the trick water gardens will not seem so attractive or fun! Easy to get to on local bus No 5, which goes close the entrance, and takes about 15-20 mins from Salzburg centre, by the main bridge over the river. If you have the Salzburg visitor card, then the bus travel and entrance fee are free, and you do not need to purchase a ticket at Palace entrance. Tours are guided only, and you simply wait for sufficient number in a group for the tour to start. Take a waterproof coat to wear when touring the gardens, or expect to get wet!

Hellbrunn is a traditional tourist attraction at the gates of Salzburg.
You can spend a nice day visiting the palace and its park . But...pay attention to the tricky fountains! Do not sit at the Royal Table in the Roman Theatre if you do not want to get wet from the begining!:)

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The former owner of Hellbrunn Palace, an Archbishop, was getting rather bored by having to meet with and keep company with people he disliked and found boring so to make these meetings interesting he made this water garden with a difference. All around are secluded places where water could squirt getting the guests wet. The most notable of which is a stone table in which water can be projected through the seats except for the head of the table where the Archbishop sat (see photo). There are also some other grottos and items around the garden which are interesting including a mechanical puppet scene powered by water.

The tour around the garden is really fun and one that would definatly be a highlight in a kids holiday. You'll get a bit wet on the tour but not soaked unless you really want to.

The normal garden is very attractive, it has a large carp pond and some other features dotted around.