Spanish Riding School

Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest classical riding school in the world. It's called Spanish because the Lipizzaner horses descend from horses brought from Spain. Performances take place in the Winter Riding School, a Baroque hall in the Hofburg built between 1729 and 1735, with white columns and huge chandeliers.

Riders in brown tailcoats and bicorne hats perform haute école movements passed down orally for centuries. The horses are born dark and turn white with age; between shows they rest in the Stallburg stables across the street.