The TV documentary presents the imperial residence in stunning images from entirely new perspectives. Only from a bird’s-eye view does the vast scale of the baroque ensemble — with its park, zoo, and surrounding buildings — become fully visible. Once serving as a seat of power, a residence, and a stage for imperial representation, Schönbrunn Palace reflects centuries of history. Two women symbolize the palace’s eventful past: Empress Maria Theresa and Empress Elisabeth, better known as Sisi.
Maria Theresa expanded Schönbrunn into a magnificent summer residence, combining politics, representation, and family life within its walls. An additional mezzanine floor was even created for her 16 children. Sisi, by contrast, was a celebrated icon who longed to escape court life and the constant public attention. Her separate bedroom from her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph, reveals that despite all the splendor, her happiness was not destined to last.
A film by Klaus T. Steindl.
Credits
Documentary
90 min. / 52 min.
Directed by: Klaus T. Steindl
Written by: Klaus T. Steindl, Heinrich Mayer-Moroni
Producers: Magdalena Pochlatko, Jakob Pochlatko
Line Producer: Heinrich Mayer-Moroni
Director of Photography: Hubert Doppler
Sound: Hans-Werner Hamberger, Andreas Amon
Music: Andreas Radovan, Stella Radovan
Edited by: Michaela Müllner
Sound Design: Blautöne
Production Manager: Ronald Graf
Production Coordination: Sophie Schwaighofer
Post-Production: Jelka Jeschek
Color Grading: Christof Halasz
Animation: Roman Hansi
Narrator: Angelika Lang
Commissioning Editors: Otto Schwarz (ORF III), Peter Allenbacher (ZDF)
among others
produced in: 2025
first broadcasted: April 14, 2026
a co-production by EPO-Film, ORF III, ZDF
in cooperation with ARTE
distributed by ORF ENTERPRISE
co-funded by FERNSEHFONDS AUSTRIA, VIENNA FILM FUND
Fotos/Downloads
