Oberes Belvedere

Oberes Belvedere is a Baroque palace in Vienna and one of three venues forming the Belvedere complex. Its historic rooms present paintings, sculptures and other works spanning eight centuries of art. Austrian artists Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Franz Xaver Messerschmidt appear alongside Vincent van Gogh. Klimt’s The Kiss remains a particularly familiar highlight.

The palace focuses on major works from Austrian and international art, while the wider complex extends into other periods. The Lower Belvedere, Orangery and former stables host exhibitions including medieval art. Belvedere 21 adds contemporary art, film and music within a post-war modernist building. Wheelchair access and sensory-friendly materials make the museum easier to experience for visitors with disabilities.

One striking work is Jacques Louis David’s Napoleon at the Great St Bernard, completed in 1801. The oil painting shows Napoleon crossing the Alps in a red cloak, with his horse rearing beneath him. Rocks carry the names Bonaparte, Hannibal and Charlemagne, linking his image to earlier Alpine crossings.