Belvedere completes restoration of Upper Palace facade

The restoration of the Upper Belvedere palace facade in Vienna has been completed after two years of work, ORF reported. The project followed the restoration of the Lower Belvedere.

Work began on the northern section before moving to the southern facade. Markus Wimmer, deputy head of the Burghauptmannschaft, said restorers used experience gained from work on the facades, windows and sculptures in the north.

The historic lime-plaster facade had developed damage over time, including cavities that affected its stability. A layer of additional plaster applied over the years was removed, damaged sections were replaced and the original material was preserved as carefully as possible.

The stone sculptures also required extensive restoration. Students worked alongside restorers on some of the sculptures, many of which had visible damage. Sculptures positioned high on the facade had been exposed to wind and weather and had become sandy and brittle over the years, Wimmer said.

Some work is still taking place, including on the Kustodentrakt, an adjoining building of the Belvedere. The Burghauptmannschaft invested more than four million euros in the restoration.

The next construction project is already being planned. An underground visitor centre could be built at the Belvedere from 2028 at the earliest, while a zoning procedure is still under way. This year’s Christmas market will be moved to the pond rather than being held directly in front of the palace, making room for the work.