Desert House: A Journey Through Arid Ecosystems

Step into the Desert House and embark on an adventure through the world's most extreme environments. Located in the Schönbrunn Palace Park, the Desert House, or Wüstenhaus, is housed in the former Sundial House, constructed in 1904. Emperor Franz Joseph I commissioned the building to shelter his valuable 'New Holland Collection' of plants from Australia and South Africa. Today, the Desert House recreates three distinct arid habitats: Madagascar, the Old World deserts, and the New World deserts. Explore authentic desert landscapes and discover the unique survival strategies of the plants and animals that call these environments home. Marvel at the diverse collection of succulents, including cuttings from the world's oldest potted plant. Keep an eye out for free-roaming birds and lizards as you wander through the exhibit. A highlight of the Desert House is the 70-meter-long maze of glass tubes inhabited by a colony of naked mole rats. Observe these fascinating creatures as they scurry through their underground tunnels, mimicking the social structure of ants with sterile workers and a queen. Don't miss the black-tailed rattlesnakes, native to the USA, and the Gila monsters. In the summer of 2024, a new paradise was created for the Aldabra giant tortoises, the zoo's oldest inhabitants. The Desert House offers an educational experience, showcasing the adaptations that allow life to thrive in harsh desert conditions.