schloss hof

Just outstanding special Sunday lunch buffet.Each has a theme, my last visit was for the goose and game menu.Cost just under €30

The castle itself is nothing special, when I am used to the style we have in Czech Republic. But the chapel and sala terrena are very nice. at the courtyard there is a café with cakes and drinks.The gardens and Meierhof are great place to visit, specially during the summer day.

Open daily from 10am to 6pm, Schloss Hof is a palace located near the border of Slovakia. So near in fact you can from the steps of this fine Baroque palace see Bratislava (hideous communist architecture on the outskirts of that city and the new automotive assembly plant both of which blot the landscape somewhat). It once belonged to Prince Eugene of Savoy. He had it enlarged in the Baroque style by the architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1729, and used it as an elaborate hunting lodge. The tour guide (in German) said he only had time on about three days a year to do this! He left it to a niece in his will, and it was later purchased by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and became part of the imperial estates. Now there is much to see and some more reconstruction work still to do. Much has been done and incredibly the original plans/layout for the garden were only recently discovered. One painting/print is all the rebuilders seem to have to go on. The guided tour is free. Check times. We got the 2pm tour which lasted an hour (in German - one tour in English on a Sunday) and is very informative. It takes you through the magnificent mirrored ballroom (no photography allowed in that room but seemingly OK in the others). There’s Prince Eugene room with his portrait. A whole set of rooms that Empress Maria Theresa used, all reconstructed after the terrible state the building was left in after WW2. There is a very interesting and worthwhile exhibition showing the process of renovation and revitalization over the 10 years from 2003 with amazing photos of before and after of the various sections being repaired/restored in the old horse’s stables buildings. An example is the restoration of the large fountain on the seventh terrace of the Baroque Garden, returning this dimension to the artistically designed garden for the first time in centuries. In the same stables you’ll also find an exhibition (temporary for this summer) of paintings by local Austrian modern artists. The unique Baroque gardens and the idyllic Meierhof estate farm gardens are lovely and laid out as it would have been in the grand days of yesteryear. Parking is easy and ample. Road signs are in brown and keep an eye out when driving the narrow Austrian roads. Access is good and there are buggies on site driven by the excellent and helpful staff. Refreshments are available from simple coffees, soft drinks glass of wine to more substantial lunches, hot food from 11am offered in both indoor and outdoor settings. We were a party of four and had the lunch at the Restaurant “Zum weissen Pfau”. It was OK, not great, hence the 4 stars for this review. I saw two good gift shops, selling a wide and large selection of quality gifts and books on Austrian history and gardening. There is the manor farm area with farm animals some of which you can get up close to by stepping into the enclosure. Great fun for children to stroke and be so near baby goats. Also, as part of the cultural education offered for youngsters, since June 2014, children now have their own baroque kingdom to explore, in our newly renovated Bäckenhof which is part of the estate farm. Whether it’s drama, dance or dressing up, crafting, painting and being creative, baking, face-painting or gardening – there’s a range of activities that are available to teach children about this fascinating epoch. There are also other areas focussed with activities for the young children. Check ahead for special events too for which there are a number. Summer time day passes cost 12 Euro for each adult. Entry is cheaper in the winter at 9 Euro. Lastly, no dogs are allowed.

Caught the boat from Bratislava to Devin and walked to here from the castle. It was a long walk and we were bitten by midges, but it was worth it. Schloss Hof was wonderful. The gardens were amazing, the house was interesting and there was a petting zoo and area for children. We spent about 4 hours here, and could easily have stayed much longer.

Prince Eugene who had Belvedere Castle in Vienna built also built this. Extending over more than five hectares, this ensemble of outbuildings, stables pastures, and fields is an absolute marvel. The Baroque building of Hof Palace appealed to our senses. Our eyes were engaged by radiant colours, playful shapes and exquisite craftsmanship. While the view of the gardens beyond the windows disclosed the intricate patterns of the flower beds which resemble a colourful embroidered carpet. Our guide told us of the stories and anecdotes for the lives of the palace’s former occupants. Providing a lively background accompaniment were the sounds from the nearby estate farm.

This place is really good when it is nice weather, it is weekend and u have taste to go somewhere and dont know where. Take your kids and they will be satisfied. I have been in many castles already and I must admit this castle is not even in top 10, I would miss next time self guide in castle and better to keep money for fee and just go to the gardens. They are great! So perfect to sit for a while and enjoy free weekend outside. They u can continue to see some animals as dunkeys etc and finish in little herbs garden and place where is restaurant and kids can have some fun. Definitely worth for visit if u are close and have nothing to do.

What a grand official title.... as befits this "important cultural monument of the Austrian Baroque period". The two immaculate ochre walled, red tiled focal buildings of the Palace (Schloss) and the Manor Farm (Meierhof) are strategically set out within an area of about 50 hectares. Although not at their best in the depths of December, the gardens which surround the buildings are laid out with beautiful symmetry and perfectly tempered with fountains and white statues to give the areas subliminal boundaries.The guided tour may well have revealed more significant highlights but in our 4 hours we managed only one quarter of the whole estate and that was the appetiser to visiting again next year.On returning to our hotel, reviewing the photographs and the brochure, it was easy to close one's eyes and visualise crinolined ladies with parasol, each on the arm of a bewigged gentleman, sauntering round the planted beds in full flower. Romantic ?

Needing a place to relax, Prince Eugene of Savoy selected a site near Bratislava in the early 1700s. A great palace still furnished, gardens, fountains, stables, hothouses, petting zoo peacocks and on and on. This site is well worth spending 2 hours for the guided tour.

I was so happy to have stopped here for this afternoon. This palace is just gorgeous and the grounds pristine and beautifully kept. The views here are worth many many pictures. The self guided tour of the rooms was very nice and definitely worth the admission. You could spend an entire afternoon here exploring the grounds. A wonderful stop.

I was taken here by a friend who lives nearby. We picked a beautiful day, so everything looked stunning. The buildings are immaculately presented and the gardens are an absolute pleasure to stroll through. The fountains add a sparkle and sit well in the 'easy to take' photographs. The care and attention to the restoration of these gardens is meticulous, as explained catalogued in the information leaflets. We had tea and cake and then visited a couple of shops within the grounds. Would take my husband here if we were visited again

Amazing site and very beautiful christmas market... There are many animals, kids will love it ! Authentic imperial feeling, well maintained buildings... Baroque stile is impressive! Very near is the Slovakian border. Easy trip from Vienna...

We ventured out here to this lovely location as the city of Vienna was so hot and humid..Built as a Summer Palace but was classed as a hunting lodge..More then ample car parking/bus spaces.......it cost us 9 euro's entry, ....We had cakes and coffee in the cafe court yard before venturing into the grounds and the building itself.... We were more then surpised to discover that Film crews were in filming the ''ballet'' elimant for screening on the Vienna New Years day concert 2013.....we sneaked a preview and saw the wonderful ballet dancers in the main rooms on the ground floor performing their repetoire.....The grounds and gardens are an exact replica as to how they used to be many moons ago.......so immaculate and laid out, kept well manicured, a credit to the gardeners.....We had a conducted tour of the rooms on show and the very informative guide was a delight with her stories and anecdotes as to how life was for the royals.....A stunning place and interesting if you want to a little bit of Viennese history.....Only approx an hours drive from Vienna so easy to get to by car.....A lovely day out.....The next best after the Schonbrunn Palace...

It is a superb place. Grand and stunning gardens of all types. Very well maintained, with nice strolls to make. Very atmospheric and authentic. You get the feeling of the K&K Austrian Empire.

Schloss Hof is absolutely stunning. It is a fine baroque palace surrounding by huge baroque gardens with plenty for all the family to enjoy. In a country filled with many splendours, Schloss Hof ranks up there alongside some of the best of them. It is about an hour from Vienna so makes an easy day trip, one that plenty of families seem to make and one that all enjoy tremendously.Parking at Schloss Hof is apparently available for 545 vehicles. The grounds are so impressive and large that such a huge number of visitors feels in no way crowded. There is just so much space and many nooks to explore. The large grounds are the main draw, the palace is better from the outside than from within. The State Rooms are not particularly impressive and it does not seem worth spending money on a tour. The chapel is by far the best internal experience.The grounds though are inspiring. Baroque gardens of the highest order. Well manicured herb, vegetable, and flower arrangements nestle alongside a seemingly endless row of fountains and water features. For gardeners, Schloss Hof is an absolute must in Austria.The grounds also include a petting zoo and pastures. The petting zoo has a lot of sheep and goats that children can enjoy. The petting zoo is next to a couple of play areas. Kids are extremely well catered for at Schloss Hof. The pastures are interesting mostly for their contents - sheep, chickens, shetland ponies, horses, llamas, and camels among others. It takes a while to walk around all the pastures, the other route is via Fiaker.There is plenty to eat. The main restaurant checks in at around €10-15 for the main course. The food is good. There is also a patisserie mainly aimed at coffee and cake. For fans of chocolate orange, the Prinz Eugen Torte is first class. A grill serves various other foods.That there is a bit of history to the place is an added bonus. The replication of some of the statues from the Belvedere puts Schloss Hof firmly in its place. It is a real gem and while it needs to be a sunny day to really enjoy it, visitors to this part of the world should definitely stop by.

He build this Castle as a Summer Residence. Beautyful Garden. From Time to time there are Shows with the spanish Riding School