Schmetterlinghaus: The Imperial Butterfly Park – Vienna, Austria - Atlas Obscura
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Schmetterlinghaus: The Imperial Butterfly Park

Vienna, Austria

A tropical paradise just a short trip from the opera house is filled with beautiful winged creatures. 

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Beautiful butterflies in Vienna vienna (Atlas Obscura User)
Schmetterlinghaus interior vienna (Atlas Obscura User)
Schmetterlinghaus exterior vienna (Atlas Obscura User)
A morphyl butterfly among live flowers neon astrolabe (Atlas Obscura User)
The interior and the exterior are classis " Jugendstil " vienna (Atlas Obscura User)
The magnificent entrance to the Schmetterlinghaus vienna (Atlas Obscura User)
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Built around the turn of the last century and part of the Hofburg palace, this “Jugendstil” or Art Nouveau greenhouse is filled with a lush, tropical landscape, trickling waterfalls, and within its humid walls you will be treated to its delicate inhabitants - the butterflies.

Peeking into hollow trees and up among the branches, you can watch the graceful favorites of the bug world flitter and fly, or softly rest and pulse their exotic wings, possibly on your outstretched finger. A closer look could very well uncover cocoons, or you may even catch a hatching. The butterfly house offers two levels from which to seek sights of the colorful flyers.

A short film at the end of your walk though the butterfly habitat will give you some scientific insight on the ethereal creatures you just enjoyed inside the tropical forest in the center of a city.

Know Before You Go

As of June 2021, the butterfly house requires a negative COVID-19 test or immunization card to enter.  It is located next door to the Palmhaus.

butterflies horticulture plants museums and collections animals
Nearby
Palmenhaus
0.02 miles
Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Austrian National Library)
0.06 miles
Ungarisches Haus (Hungarian House)
0.07 miles
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