The imposing façade of the Palais Bratmann-Thorsch stands before you. Its very stones whisper tales of Viennese history.
This magnificent palace nestled in the 3rd district of Vienna on Metternichgasse 4 boasts a rich and complex past. Built between 1897 and 1899 by Friedrich Schachner for industrialist Josef Bratmann the Palais quickly changed hands. A few years later it became the home of the Thorsch family a prominent Jewish banking family.
The Thorsch family lived in opulent style. Their home was filled with Italian tapestries large oil paintings and exquisite Gobelins. A gold and white ballroom shone with elegance. Fine silks and other luxurious materials adorned the sixty rooms. Not only did the family reside here but also their extensive household staff.
Imagine the grandeur the laughter perhaps the anxieties. This was their world. Then came 1938. The Anschluss the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany forever altered the family’s destiny. On March 13th just a day after the Anschluss the Thorsch family fled Vienna. They left behind their precious possessions and their beloved home forever. The Palais was looted and occupied by the Nazi party. Its treasures were coveted. The Belvedere and Kunsthistorisches Museum along with others fought over the artwork. After the war the Thorsch family tried unsuccessfully to reclaim their stolen heritage.
Today the Palais Bratmann-Thorsch houses the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China. Yet the echoes of the Thorsch family’s story remain. The imposing structure the rich detailing still hints at the opulence and tragedy once contained within its walls. The Palais Bratmann-Thorsch is a testament to a family a city and a history both glorious and heartbreaking. It stands as a reminder of what was and what is. It is a story etched in stone a legacy that continues to resonate.