Spanish Riding School – a place of living tradition and equestrian art The Spanish Riding School, located in the historic St. Michael’s Wing of the Vienna Hofburg, is a world-famous institution for classical equestrian art. It has been a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage site since 2010 and was added to the representative list of intangible world cultural heritage in 2015. The roots of the school go back over 450 years, when it trained young aristocrats for both war and artistic riding. The name “Spanish Riding School” originated when Ferdinand I brought horses from the Iberian Peninsula to Austria, which were renowned for their quality at the time. Today, the high art of dressage is continued on Lipizzaner stallions, which are characteristic of the school. These white horses are a symbol of elegance and perfection, occasionally supplemented by a few bay stallions for good luck. The breathtaking performances take place in the Hofburg’s magnificent Winter Riding School, which is considered the “most beautiful riding hall in the world” and was built under Charles VI between 1729 and 1735. Here, visitors can experience the precise movements of the horses during the famous gala performances, in which spectacular lessons such as the capriole, courbette and levade are presented. The daily morning work also provides exciting insights into the training of the horses and riders. In summer, the “Piber meets Vienna” program is offered, in which carriages, broodmares and foals from Piber Stud are presented. Book your tickets conveniently on our website www.viennaprimetickets.com and experience the magic of the Spanish Riding School up close.