Spanish Riding School
No visit to Vienna is complete without a trip to the Hofburg Palace. Once the political centre of the Austrian Empire, it offers culture and history in abundance. The Spanish Riding School, founded in 1565, is undoubtedly one of Austria's most important cultural assets and a true Viennese institution. The Lipizzaner stallions of this traditional riding school delight spectators from all over the world with their performances.
The high school of classical horsemanship, which has been cultivated here since the Renaissance, is even listed as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Experience the proud horses in the baroque riding hall during their morning work – their daily training routine.
Did you know:
- The ‘Spanish’ part of the tradition comes from the Lipizzan horses, which actually originate from the Iberian Peninsula.
- Baroque architect Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach designed the riding hall meant for aristocratic boys to learn how to ride – now it is the stunning backdrop to this classic Viennese tradition.
- The stallions are brought from their stud farm in Piber to Vienna at the age of four and then trained for around six years before they are allowed to take part in the performances.
Hint
Please note that your Vienna PASS or FLEXI Pass will be activated with the first scan even if you receive a ticket for the following day for the morning exercise. The day of the first scan is the first day of use. We ask you to take this into account when planning your journey!
Please note that the Vienna PASS or FLEXI Pass gives you standing room only for admission to the morning exercise at the Spanish Riding School.
Things to see:
Visit the morning training sessions held from Tuesday to Friday. The Lipizzaner stallions are ridden through exercises designed to prepare them for performances and strengthen them. This is the perfect opportunity to experience the daily training routine of the riders with their horses and gain an insight into 460 years of tradition.
Gymnastics of the horses includes loosening exercises, refinement and perfection of lessons, as well as targeted strengthening of the musculature. The famous school jumps, which are presented during the demonstrations, are only sometimes seen during the training in order to spare the animals. Each stallion is trained according to his individual training level up to lessons of the high school.
More information about the exact program, additional dates and ticket sales can be found on the website of the Spanish Riding School.
Morning Exercise
Public
Metro:U3 Herrengasse
Tram:1, 2, D, 71 Burgring
Bus: 1A, 2A Michaelerplatz
Hop On Hop Off
Route: Blue Line / Yellow Line / Red Line
Bus Stop:
Kunsthistorisches Museum / Heldenplatz
Address
Michaelerplatz 1,
1010
Vienna
Phone:
+43 1 533 90 31
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