Beneath the elegant facade of Palais Lamberg-Sprinzenstein, secrets of emperors and financial dealings linger. This palace, located on Wallnerstrasse, whispers tales of Vienna’s vibrant past. For a time, it even served as a place for Emperor Franz Stephan von Lothringen for business matters. Because of this, it gained the moniker Kaiserhaus.
Originally, two separate houses occupied this very spot. Ferdinand Maximilian Graf Sprinzenstein purchased them around 1668. By 1675, he had transformed them into the Palais Lamberg-Sprinzenstein. He equipped the interior with luxurious appointments.
Fast forward to 1730. Carl Joseph Graf Lamberg-Sprinzenstein oversaw another renovation. Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach may have designed it. However, in 1740, the Lamberg family parted ways with their Palais. Franz I. Stephan von Lothringen, husband of Empress Maria Theresa, became the new owner.
This Palais served Franz Stephan as a refuge. Here, he escaped strict court ceremonies. He dedicated his time to financial affairs and the arts. He dealt with administrative tasks and scientific explorations like alchemy. In private, he welcomed friends and business partners. These partners were “not fit for court”. Hence, the name Kaiserhaus stuck.
Around the mid-18th century, the interior received a Rococo makeover. By 1765, Kaiser Joseph II inherited the Kaiserhaus. He then sold it to Franz Ulrich Fürst Kinsky. Later, the Czernin family acquired it. From about 1800 to 1845, they housed their art gallery here. Later, they moved it to Palais Czernin in Josefstadt.
From 1855 to 1911, the Counts Buquoy-Longueval owned the Palais. They commissioned Friedrich Flohr to renovate the interior and facade. Today, the Donau-Finanz GesmbH & Co. KG owns Palais Lamberg. It serves as an office building.
After the patent office moved out in 2003, renovations began. The Bundesdenkmalamt and the Austrian Restauratorenverband collaborated. Architect DI Harald Mallner led the project. They restored the second and third floors. Previously, various insurance companies occupied the Palais. A somewhat incongruous roof extension dates back to the 1960s. Fortunately, much of the magnificent interior remains intact.
The side facing Wallnerstrasse largely dates back to 1846. Benedikt Henrici designed some of the rooms in 1797. The ballroom boasts stucco putti and gilded vases. A marble fireplace adds to the grandeur. It dates back to 1855. Behind the courtyard once stood stables.
Master Wolfgang Steinböck provided stonework. He used Eggenburg sculptor stone and Kaiserstein from Kaisersteinbruch. He created the portal and steps for the main staircase. A spiral staircase also exists. In the courtyard, a wall fountain features a Poseidon head spouting water. It is made of coarse sandstone from Bad Fischau.
Though the interior is not open for tours today, imagine the echoes of imperial deals. Picture secret rendezvous within Palais Lamberg-Sprinzenstein’s walls. This building is a silent witness to Vienna’s intriguing past.