Service Wing

A building's size and magnificence demonstrated the rank and statusof its owner. Its decoration and ornamentation made visible not onlyhis wealth, but also his social position. Likewise part of the aristo-cratic world, however, were spaces for household activities as wellas for stables, all of which needed to be appropriately equipped.

Therefore, the Schönborn Garden Palace featured a ServiceWing next to its representative Main Courtyard. The coaches arrivingin the Main Courtyard would access the ServiceWing by turning into a barrel- vaulted entrance-way. The Service Wing occupied the westernpart of the property along with the adjoiningkitchen garden and Orangerie. Vehicles usedtheir own entrance to reach its inner courtyard.This area contained carriage bays for the coachesand richly appointed stables for the horses.

The formerService Wing

is the oldest partof the palace

This former Service Wing is the oldest part of the palace. Theproperty's earliest known owner, the Imperial Court and ChamberSculptor Peter Conchortz, was documented in 1647. Traces of pre-existing structures can still be seen today in various cellars, on theground floor, and in the form of a connecting spiral staircase.

Next to the Service Wing's carriage entrance is a his-toric kitchen area on the ground floor. This room was prob-ably already part of a small manor here during the late 16thcentury. Remodelling work in 1956 turned up remains of afireplace with a two- storey chimney, which were removed.But still visible today is a vault over a square central pillar.

Count Schönborn's aristocratic household and garden facilitiesrequired numerous servants. The servant quarters were most probablyon the ground floor. Extant plans show how the Service Wing used tobe longer by several rooms, extending toward the kitchen garden.

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