Shining a light on a Baroque world

The State Apartments on the south side of the Residence, a series of seven interconnecting State Rooms, decorated with red silk damask and matching white-gilt seating. Two fashionable Far Eastern side rooms were added to enhance this sequence of apartments.

The Semi-State Apartments on the poorly-lit north side of the building were primarily used for evening parties. Over 30 games tables were set up here in the 18th century.

When required, the State Rooms could also be used to accommodate special guests. Only one bed now remains in one of the original three available bedchambers. On the occasion of a visit by the Imperial court in 1765, the State Bedchamber served probably the Holy Roman Emperor Francis I Stephan or his wife, Empress Maria Theresa.

This small room, lined in yellow damask, on the west side of the Residence served as a bedchamber for the new head of the household, Leopold Count Herberstein, who also had this room at the corner of the palace appointed as his private salon, with a picture gallery, a fortepiano and a billiards table. The bed that belonged in this room was destroyed in 1945.