The site dates back to the Medieval times. In the early 1300s, the land was property of Klosterneuburg Hall known as Katterburg. It was a farm estate with vineyards and a watermill until it came under royal ownership in 1569. Under Emperor Maximilian II of the Habsburgs decorative gardens and hunting grounds were added, establishing the leisure traditions for the next five centuries. The gardens featured native as well as exotic game like peacocks and turkeys, on a par with royal garden tendencies developing at the time. To this day exotic bird species such as red-breasted flycatchers and golden orioles roam the complex premises.

Emperor Matthias used the grounds for hunting trips in the beginning of the 17th Century and in later years he is said to have come across the Schöner Brunnen (a beautiful spring), hence the name of the palace. In 1637, the so-called pleasure castle was built under the rule of Empress Eleonora. She possessed remarkable knowledge of the arts and commissioned gardens of astounding beauty to be planted around the castle. Her successors continued to develop the gardens, which served as the location of royal parties and performances in later years.

The Ottomans attacked Vienna in 1683 and destroyed the splendid complex. Three years later, Emperor Leopold I decided to rebuild the opulent palace and appointed architect Johann von Erlach to design the new structure. The construction commenced in 1696, and the palace was completed in 1700. The complex was well maintained until 1740, when under the rule of Empress Maria Theresa, the palace's most excellent era began. It became the hub of royal life. The park was enlarged and made more accessible by adding a network of beautiful lanes and the gardens in the Baroque style came to embody the imperial authority.

During the next decades, also the Great Parterre, the Neptune Fountain and the Gloriette on the hilltop were added to the make the imperial residence even more attractive. The Great Parterre is a garden with a network of gorgeous avenues, stretching as far as the eye can see and the Gloriette is a monument comprising a central arch flanked by a number of regal arches with an eagle on a globe – a symbol of the empire – situated on its top.

In 1777, Johann Beyer erected a number of ornamental statues in the Great Parterre of Schönnbrunn and in 1779 the gardens were ready to be opened to the public. Almost a century later, also the Great Palm House, an impressive conservatory featuring a collection of rare plants, was completed. Its collection has multiplied since then and a visit to this unique botanical garden is exciting not only for botanists but also for regular tourists. Schönnbrunn Complex is a marvel to children as well; featuring a zoo, a puppet theatre and a special tour for youngsters, it's as popular with the kids as it is with their parents.