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The Volksgarten , which forms a large triangular wedge to the northwest of the Neue Burg and Heldenplatz, was opened in 1820 on the site of the old Burgbastei, blown up by Napoleon's troops in 1809. Appropriately enough, given its origins, it was laid out as a formal French garden and now features a Neoclassical temple, and a memorial to the ever-popular Empress Elisabeth. The more informal Burggarten likewise came into being fortuitously after Napoleon blew up the bastions around the Hofburg. It was retained as a private garden for the Habsburgs until 1918, and now lies hidden behind the giant Neue Burg. On the northeast side of the garden stands the elegant glass Palmenhaus (Palm House), designed by Friedrich Ohmann in Jugendstil around 1900. The left-hand section provides a suitably steamy environment for the colourful tropical butterflies and moths of the Schmetterlinghaus (Butterfly House; daily: April-Oct 10am-5pm; Nov-March 10am-4pm; oS50/?3.63), which until recently lived out in Schonbrunn. The much larger, middle section of the Palmenhaus has been converted into a very swish, palmy cafe.
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