3rd Terrace

From the third terrace the view opens up towards the far-reaching landscape and Slovakia. Here the so-called parterres de broderie spread out like a great carpet. These form a typical feature of the Baroque garden, its sections composed as arabesques with flowers, box trees and polychrome gravel.

Cybele Fountain

The centrepoint of the third terrace is formed by a basin, in the middle of which the Earth and fertility goddess Cybele rides on a lion. This goddess was a particular favourite in Baroque gardens, an allusion to her as queen of Nature and the world of flora and fauna.

Grotto

Two concave-curving sets of steps lead to the so-called grotto. This wall fountain with three recesses is still kept in its original state, as it was in the days of Prince Eugene. Two sculptures in the outer recesses represent the rivers of the region, the Danube and the March.

Grotto Gate

A lavishly ornamental iron gate leads from the grotto onto the fourth garden level. It is an outstanding masterpiece of the art of forging, executed around 1730 by Christian Kremer and Johann Georg Oegg. It was shown at the 1895 World Exhibition in Antwerp as a prime example of home-grown handicraft.

Further Reading