From the royal stables to the MuseumsQuartier

The MQ as an imperial city for horses and carriages

Historical depiction of the imperial stables in Vienna with multiple gilded carriages and numerous people in the courtyard — Balthasar Wigand, Die k. k. Stallungen in Wien am 17. Dezember 1834, 1834, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek

Following in the footsteps of the noble Lipizzaner and Kladruber horses, this tour focuses on horses and equestrian art in the Baroque period, transportation by carriage, and court life and work.

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Over 300 years of history, a 355-meter-long façade, space for more than 600 horses and around 400 carriages: today's MuseumsQuartier has always been a place of constant movement. It was a place of training, repair, staging, and representation — from daily stable work to magnificent processions.

Built from 1725 onwards under Emperor Charles VI, Maria Theresa's father, the Imperial Stables were a major Baroque project of European significance. The overall design was the work of the renowned Baroque architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, whose plans created the monumental setting for the functional heart of courtly mobility.

Discover on the guided tour:

the royal stables, a baroque architectural gem of monumental dimensions
the liveliness of the area with horse shows, festive parades, and courtly everyday life
die Geschichte der prächtigen Prunk- und Galawägen, die hier einst untergebracht und vorbereitet wurden für große Auftritte des Kaiserhofs
the role of Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) and Emperor Franz Joseph, under whose reign the area was expanded — including a separate hall for Sisi's vaulting exercises
the transformation from imperial stables to today's MuseumsQuartier

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