How do children imagine the coach that took Cinderella to the ball? Probably the way the book's illustrator imagined it. To show your child what the ancestor of the modern car looked like, take them to the Imperial Carriage Museum in Vienna. It's located in the Schönbrunn Palace complex, where there are many other attractions for children.
What vehicles does the palace use? First and foremost, the magnificent carriages of the royal family. Large, heavy and lavishly decorated, they are an eye-catcher. It's hard to imagine that these gilded, carved carriages are made of wood. Carving was not the only way to decorate a carriage.
The vintage vehicles are enhanced with upholstery made from expensive materials, enamel decorations and glass elements. Even the wheels are gilded! One of the most magnificent exhibits in the museum is the carriage used by Empress Sisi on her wedding day. The carriage has eight white horses and this one alone takes up a good half of the hall.
In addition to summer carriages, sleighs were also used for winter travel. The young heirs to the throne had their own means of transport. While the adult sledges and carriages were pulled by a team of horses, the children's carriages were pulled by ponies or sheep. Paintings in the museum depict the great journeys of the emperors. There are also carriages for everyday use, for sporting events and for funerals. Some carriages are less ostentatious. They were used to serve the palace and to transport goods.
The Carriage Museum traces the evolution of vehicles. In addition to horse-drawn carriages, there are also self-propelled carriages, the silhouettes of which can be seen in the modern automobile.
The Museum of Carriages in Vienna pays special attention to the Empress Sisi. An entire room is devoted to the clothes she wore on horseback. As a good horsewoman, Elisabeth of Bavaria appreciated horses - portraits of her favourites are also on display.
There is also an interesting display of ceremonial clothing worn by members of the imperial household. Some of the garments are ornate, while others are decidedly modest - except for the excellent cut, expensive fabrics and gold buttons, which suggest that only a very noble person would wear such an outfit.
Don't leave the palace grounds in a hurry after visiting the museum — many of Vienna's attractions are concentrated in this palace and park complex. Take the kids to the Schönbrunn Zoo and the Children's Museum, where a friendly ghost will help them pretend to be members of the royal family.
