Join the globe trekking architectural historian, John Tschirch, in a visual feast as he lectures on a selection of 17th and 18th century European palaces where images of power played supporting roles to pleasure. Among the palaces included are Drottiningholm, the summer palace of Swedish Queens; Schonbrunn, the “Austrian Versailles” for the imperial family near Vienna; Sanssouci and the villas of Prussian princes and princesses in the verdant countryside of Potsdam; and Tsars-koe-Selo, the luxurious retreat of Russian Emperors and Empresses.

Schonbrunn: A Dream in a Beautiful Spring

Conceived as the “Austrian Versailles,” the summer palace of the Hapsburg dynasty reflects the desire of Emperors and Empresses to escape into a rural paradise. Set among a natural spring, the palace was both imperial residence and family home, a rare combination of grandeur and intimacy.

These architectural and landscape creations allowed for a full reign of fantasy on the part of their patrons and designers, resulting in some of the most innovative and finely crafted works of art in western culture. Each of the palaces in this lecture series has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, encapsulating the history and culture of its age, and practicing sustainable land management and collections conservation.

John Tschirch, Palaces of Repose: Part 2