Lipizzaner Horses and the Spanish Riding School
The world's oldest riding school and its white horses
FamilyWien- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Languages
- German, English
This private tour around the Spanish Riding School in Vienna introduces the famous Lipizzaner horses and their centuries-old tradition. You experience baroque horsemanship in the heart of the Hofburg.
The Spanish Riding School is considered the oldest riding school in the world, with a history that goes back to 1565. Its name recalls the Spanish horses from which the Lipizzaners were bred. Classical Renaissance horsemanship has been practiced here for centuries.
The Winter Riding School, completed by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach in the 1730s, is one of Vienna's most beautiful baroque halls. The horses live across the street in the Stallburg, a Renaissance wing of the Hofburg. Lipizzaners are born dark and only turn white over the years. Today they are bred at the Piber stud farm in Styria.
Your guide shares stories of riders, leaps and horses and can combine the tour with a visit to the morning exercise on request.
Highlights
- The world's oldest riding school
- The baroque Winter Riding School
- The Stallburg, home of the Lipizzaners
- Why Lipizzaners are born dark
- Optional: watch the morning exercise
The route
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1Michaelerplatz
Start at the gateway to the Hofburg.
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2Stallburg
Renaissance courtyard and the horses' stables.
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3Josefsplatz
The entrance to the Winter Riding School.
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4Winter Riding School
Baroque hall and classical horsemanship.
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5Reitschulgasse
Finish with stories from the Piber stud farm.
Who this tour is for
For horse lovers, families with kids from about six and fans of court traditions.
Frequently asked questions
Are entrance fees included?
No, entrance fees are never included in the tour price. When you book, we are happy to tell you which admissions apply to your group.
How is the price calculated?
This is a private tour for your group only. The price is per group, not per person, which makes it great value for families and friends traveling together.
Will we see the horses on every tour?
That depends on the riding school's schedule. Where possible, your guide includes the morning exercise or a look at the stables. Tickets are not included.
