Where Is Netflix’s The Empress Filmed?

When German-language show The Empress debuted back in September 2022, it wracked up millions of watch hours and was swiftly renewed for a second season. Flash forward to November 2024 and that sequel has finally landed – and we’ve fallen in love all over again: with our heroine Sisi (Devrim Lingnau), but mostly with the opulent Viennese backdrop. But where was The Empress filmed? And can we visit the locations for ourselves? Here’s what you need to know.

Where Was The Empress Filmed?

The Empress may be set in Vienna, but season 1 was mainly filmed in Bavaria, Germany and season 2 was mainly filmed in Prague, Czech Republic. One particularly gorgeous location is the baroque Schloss Weißenstein (Weissenstein Palace) in Pommersfelden which stands in for Vienna’s real Schönbrunn Palace, Sisi’s primary residence in the series. Meanwhile, exterior shots of Sisi’s childhood home, Possenhofen Castle, were filmed at Eyrichshof Castle near Ebern, while quintessential Bavarian towns like Bayreuth, Stein, Bamberg Dinkelsbühl, Eckersdorf and Aidhausen were used for filming, setting the scene in the 1848 Austrian empire.

Weissenstein Palace (© CZS)

What Is The Empress About?

The Empress centres on Sisi, the real Bavarian princess Elisabeth von Wittelsbach played by Devrim Lingnau. Upon her marriage to her cousin Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria (Philip Froissant), Sisi is whisked off to Austria where she struggles to adjust to life in the stifling Habsburg royal court. But, maintaining her individuality and freedom, Sisi becomes a beloved public figure.

At the end of season 1, Sisi is all but ready to abandon Austria and her marriage entirely, prompted by her cutthroat aunt turned mother-in-law Sophia (Melika Foroutan) who suggests she annul her marriage. But at this point, Sisi is pregnant. When she exits their palace, however, Sisi is met with a mob of angry protesters. But rather than retreat behind the gates, Sisi strides out into the crowd and declares her pregnancy publicly… And the screen cuts to black.

The Empress season 2 picks up the aftermath: the newlyweds’ love may have been solidified, but Franz has a new European adversary to face. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Sisi to produce an heir to the empire and secure the family’s fate ASAP. Here’s hoping it’s a bouncing baby boy.

The Empress season 2. (Netflix)

The Cast

• Devrim Lingnau as Elisabeth von Wittelsbach aka Sisi
• Philip Froissant as Franz Joseph, Emperor of Austria
• Melika Foroutan as Sophie, Archduchess of Austria
• Johannes Nussbaum as Archduke Maximilian
• Joseph Elisa Schlott as Duchess Helene in Bavaria
• Jördis Triebel as Ludovika, Duchess in Bavaria
• Almila Bagriacik as Countess Leontine von Apafi
• Hanna Hilsdorf as Countess Amalia von Salm-Reifferscheidt
• Runa Greiner as Countess Charlotte von Stubenberg
• Svenja Jung as Countess Louise Gundemann
• Andreas Döhler as Maximilian, Duke in Bavaria
• Wiebke Puls as Countess Sophie Esterházy
• Michael Fuith as Franz Karl, Archduke of Austria
• Felix Nölle as Archduke Ludwig Viktor of Austria
• Joseph Martin Butzke as Gustav, Prince of Vasa
• Alexander Finkenwirth as Baron Alexander von Bach
• Leopold Hornung as Count Karl Ferdinand von Buol
• Patrick Rapold as Franz Liszt
• August Schmölzer as Prince-Archbishop Joseph Othmar von Rauscher
• Raymond Tarabay as François-Adolphe De Bourqueney
• Eric Bouwer as Doctor Fritsch
• Irene Della Casa as Baronesse Francesca
• Rauand Taleb as Theo
• Erol Nowak as Johann Baron Kempen von Fichtenstamm
• Merlin Rose as Egon
• Noemi Emily Krausz as Margarete
• Anna Bottcher as Elsa
• Markus Fennert as Lieutenant Krall
• Andreas Bongard as Johann Strauss
• Vladimir Korneev as Alexander Nikolayevich, Grand Duke of Russia
• Elzemarieke De Vos as Maria Alexandrovna, Grand Duchess of Russia

Will There Be A Season 3?

The Empress has not yet been renewed for season 3 – but our fingers are crossed. After season 1 debuted, Netflix took two months to deliberate before renewing it for a second season, regardless of the huge success it was having. It might be a similar amount of time before we hear word about The Empress season 3. Watch this space.

WATCH

All episodes of The Empress are available to stream exclusively on Netflix.