Poetzleinsdorfer Schlosspark at Dusk

Last night, I chanced upon this beautiful park
on my way to a dinner invitation.
Night had begun to slowly fall,
when I parked my car on a tree-lined street,
below the host's house. When I stepped out of the car,
I realized that on the other side of the street was
a small gate in the fence,
which opened up into a beautiful park.
I was already late, still, I couldn't resist,
taking a few steps beyond the gate and shooting these pictures.
Then I quickly turned, and run up towards the house,
through wafts of perfume from the lilacs,
which were lining my path.

A very apt beginning of an enchanted evening.
Grazie mille, A. and friends.

Pötzleinsdorfer Schloßpark

The park's attractions include the giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) lining the avenue that used to be the main entrance to the palace. Today part of the park is used for playgrounds and sunbathing areas, but most of it is still a delightful landscape garden for romantic walks.

Pötzleinsdorf Palace Park in Vienna's 18th district is one of the most beautiful gardens in Vienna. Countess Philippina von Herberstein had her gardener Seyfried plant the original gardens on the slopes of the Vienna Woods in 1767. In 1797 Johann Heinrich Freiherr von Geymüller bought the gardens.

In general, the idea of redesigning the gardens as an English country garden stemmed from the sentimental, romantic topographies all around Vienna at the time. Designers of the garden were Konrad Rosenthal, head gardener to the imperial family, and Franz Illner, who later became a palace gardener. They created grassland areas with groups of trees, streams, vistas of the palace and clearings with romantic buildings scattered throughout the woods. In April and May when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in bloom along the edge of the woods, this park is one that visitors will remember for years to come.

(Park description from the City of Vienna website.)

To dream by:
Music for Cello, composed by Gabriel Fauré.

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The photos can be clicked on and enlarged.