In this chapter, Archduchess Marianne and Father Franz explore the maze in the Schönbrunn park. This marvellous structure of four quadrants and a central pavilion was gradually developed between 1700 and 1740 and can be seen in the famous painting by Bernardo Bellotto, completed in 1760. The intricate network of walkways between tall hedges created numerous turns, detours, and dead ends, offering plenty of opportunities for getting lost and thus requiring visitors to actively search for the right path. For the Imperial family and courtiers, the maze served as a place of amusement and pleasure – and at times, of secret meetings and flirtation.
In the narrative, this labyrinthine structure symbolises Marianne’s complex investigation, in which she struggles to maintain her focus and direction. A meaningful conversation with Father Franz strengthens her resolve and redirects her attention to the details she had previously overlooked.
The original maze fell out of use by the end of the nineteenth century. Today, its historical layout has been replaced by a modern reconstruction – a reminder that even when the paths of the past have vanished, one may still retrace them in search of meaning.
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