Schönbrunn has a long tradition and is one of the most imortant culture monuments in Austrian history. It was added into the list of the world culture heritage of the UNESCO in 1996.
The history of Schönrbunn goes back till the middle age. The whole area was mentioned in the 14th century as "Fortress Katterburg" and was part of the religious foundation Klosterneuburg. There was a mill, and an economic yard with winegrowing.
In the year 1569 Maximilian II became the owner of Schönbrunn. He was widen the whole complex with a garden and a zoo. The garden was a new home for all kinds of native venison, but also a lot of exotic birds, like peacocks and turkey cocks were brought there. Maximilan was a passionate hunter. He spent a lot of time catching one of his animals in the garden.
The fence of the garden was destroyed in 1605 by Hungarian troops. Nobody was really interested to repair it again, and so the damage was only corrected half-hearted.
In 1642 the castle was first time mentioned in a document.
When the Turkish Army came to take Vienna in 1683, the caste was destroyed seriously. 3 years later the owner Leopold I. gave the order to rebuild it.
It took a long time when Schönbrunn should be finnished. Owners came and left, and only in the year 1770 the whole building complex was almost finnished. It was Empress Maria Theresia who liked this place very much, and who forced the extension.
From 1880 - 1882 the big palm house, a monumental glass contruction, was built. And 1904 marked the last building project in Schönbrunn. The sun clock house for exotic plants was finnished.
