Think back to 1614. Emperor Matthias ordered a hunting lodge built here in what was then Wolfsau. Today, we stand before the magnificent Palais Augarten. It is a Baroque palace with a rich history. This palace is in Vienna’s Leopoldstadt district.
Palais Augarten started as a hunting ground. Emperor Leopold I expanded it in 1677 into a Baroque garden. Turkish forces destroyed the gardens in 1683 during the Battle of Vienna.
In 1688, businessman Zacharias Leeb bought the hunting chateau. He hired Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to build a palace. The Palais Augarten was completed in 1692. It was initially named Palais Leeb.
Emperor Joseph II acquired the Palais Augarten in 1780. It remained in the Habsburg family until the 20th century. Many balls occurred here. Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt, and Hans Makart were guests.
The grandest ball at Palais Augarten was during the 1873 Vienna World’s Fair. Emperor Franz Joseph I and Czar Alexander II of Russia attended. In 1897, the palace was remodeled for Archduke Otto’s family.
From 1934 to 1936, Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg lived here. The Palais Augarten suffered damage during World War II. It was restored after the war. In 1948, it became home to the Vienna Boys’ Choir.
Today, the Vienna Boys’ Choir rehearse and study here. The Augarten Porcelain Museum is also located here. The palace, like the Augarten park, belongs to the Austrian state.
The Augarten is Vienna’s oldest Baroque garden. Jean Trehet redesigned the park in the French style in 1712. Joseph II opened the Augarten to the public in 1775.
The park includes Baroque gardens and lawns. Chestnut, linden, ash, and maple trees line its avenues. It is a perfect place for a stroll.
Two Flak towers built in 1940 remain as reminders of World War II. They were used for air defense and as bomb shelters.
The Augarten Palace stands as a testament to Vienna’s imperial past. It combines history, music, and art. It continues to be a cultural treasure for Vienna. Its walls echo with stories of emperors, composers, and the sweet voices of the Vienna Boys’ Choir.