Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace has been named Europe’s most beautiful filming location, winning the European Film Commission Network (EUFCN) Location Award following an audience vote.

The award, presented at the Berlinale film festival, recognised the palace’s role as the principal setting for the HBO series the Regime, Stephen Frears’ political satire in which Kate Winslet stars as a fictional dictator.

Filming for The Regime took place in Vienna over four weeks at the start of 2023. Schönbrunn Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site, stood in as the residence of Winslet’s character, Elena Vernham. Several rooms within the historic complex, including the Bergl Rooms and the White and Gold Rooms, were used for key scenes, along with the palace’s grand staircases and extensive gardens.

Schönbrunn beat a host of striking contenders, including the Tajogaite volcano in the Canary Islands, the medieval town of Mdina in Malta and the Norwegian island of Frøya.

Klaus Panholzer, managing director of the Schönbrunn Group, said he was proud of the recognition. “The Regime was the first international film production allowed to shoot at the palace. Under strict conditions in this historic setting, the film crew, actors and the Schönbrunn Group team worked together in close collaboration and mutual trust.”

A Major Visitor Attraction

Beyond its cinematic appeal, Schönbrunn remains one of Austria’s most popular landmarks. In 2023, the palace and its gardens drew around 3.2 million visitors, helped by events such as the annual Christmas market and the Summer Night Concert.

It is also Austria’s most-reviewed location on Google Maps, with more than 158,000 reviews. In the parks category, the Schönbrunn gardens hold the top spot as well.

Panholzer credited the Vienna Film Commission for helping to facilitate the production and hinted that more filming could follow. “I look forward to more exciting projects,” he said.