Spanish Riding School

The prancing Lipizzaner stallions strut their stuff in the opulent surrounds of the Hofburg’s Winter Riding School. The stallions perform an equine ballet to a program of classical music, part of a long-established Viennese institution that’s truly reminiscent of the old Habsburg era. Pricy, but worth it for horse lovers.

The breed was first imported from Spain (hence ‘Spanish’) by Maximilian II in 1562, and in 1580 a stud was established at Lipizza (hence ‘Lipizzaner’), now in Slovenia. The mature stallions are all snow-white (though they are born dark) and the riders wear traditional garb, from their leather boots up to their bicorn hats.

Tickets to watch them train can be bought on the day at gate No 2, Josefsplatz in the Hofburg. The stallions go on their summer holidays (seriously!) to Lainzer Tiergarten, west of the city, during July and August. They can be seen training for much of the rest of the year (except Christmas to mid-February), though they are sometimes away on tour.