The Spanish Riding School

The Spanish Riding School

The Vienna audio-guided tour takes you past the riding hall of the Spanish Riding School, housed in a wing of the Hofburg. This prestigious institution is the only one in the world to have cultivated, since the Renaissance, the classical equestrian art of the High School.

The Lipizzaners, exceptional horses

The word Spanish comes from the origin of the horses, the Lipizzaners, born from a cross between Andalusian horses and horses from Slovenia. Renowned for their qualities in dressage, they are born dark and their coat lightens with age until it becomes almost white. Originally used as royal mounts, for tournaments and military manoeuvres, these stallions arrive at the school around the age of four and undergo several years of training to master the High School figures.

What there is to see

The school offers performances in its Baroque riding hall, where the Lipizzaners execute the steps and figures of classical horsemanship, as well as morning training sessions open to the public. The setting, under the chandeliers of the Hofburg, adds to the prestige of the show. It is a living tradition, passed down from generation to generation for centuries.

Practical information

The Spanish Riding School is in the Hofburg, on the Michaelerplatz side. The performances and morning training sessions are ticketed and subject to a calendar that varies by season; it is best to check the programme in advance. The riding hall is discovered as part of these sessions.

Why is the school called Spanish ?

The name comes from the Lipizzaner horses, partly descended from Andalusian horses, which built the institution's fame.

What is a Lipizzaner ?

It is a horse breed born from a cross between Andalusian and Slovenian horses, renowned for dressage and for its coat that lightens with age.