Behold the Palais Neupauer-Breuner. It stands as a testament to Vienna’s rich history. This Baroque building at Singerstrasse 16 whispers tales of emperors and entrepreneurs.
The story of Palais Neupauer-Breuner begins long before its elegant facade graced this street. Documents show a building existed here as early as 1416. For centuries, the land changed hands. Middle-class owners lived here. Then, in 1706, it became the property of Count Karl Josef de Souches.
Debts mounted high and in 1715, the three houses on the property were auctioned. Johann Christian Neupauer, a Lord High Chamberlain of Vienna, bought them. He demolished two of the houses to make way for a grand city palace. The architect remains unknown. Yet, their work clearly shows influence from masters like Hildebrandt and Fischer von Erlach.
Neupauer’s ambition exceeded his financial reach. He died heavily indebted in 1735. His widow had to sell the palace in 1749. Maria Anna von Suttner became the new owner. The Palais Neupauer-Breuner changed hands several more times.
In 1869, Count August Breuner-Enckevoirt acquired it. Although his family owned it for a relatively short time, the palace has carried their name ever since. Through inheritance, it eventually passed to Duke Viktor von Ratibor-Corvey in 1897.
The 20th century brought challenges. In 1945, bombs severely damaged the Palais Neupauer-Breuner. But like Vienna itself, it was soon restored.
Today, His Serene Highness Prince Stephan Metternich-Ratibor owns the Palais Neupauer-Breuner. The Österreichische Realitäten-AG manages the building. It houses company headquarters and private apartments. You might find businesses like WOKA lamps, Doris Wagner Cosmetics, or GUARDI fences. The Austrian Auction Company also holds auctions of antique carpets and art here.
Notice the richly formed facade. It features a central projection and side projections. Above the balcony doors, the Breuner family’s coat of arms is prominently displayed. It replaced Johann Christian Neupauer’s.
Look closely at the statues in the wall niches on the lower floor. They depict gods and heroes of antiquity. Hercules, Apollo, Flora, and Hermes stand guard.
The reception rooms, once refurbished by architects Ludwig and Hugo Ernst Wächtler, display beautiful ceramic stoves and parquet flooring. Late historicist wooden plaques add to the ambiance.
Spanning 1,000 square meters, the Palais Neupauer-Breuner rises four stories above the basement. Its facade is one of the most magnificent in Vienna’s city center. The statues, masks, and cherubs bring it to life. The simple two-story base is banded. The relatively small square windows hint at the service rooms within.
Above, three differently designed residential floors rise. The first is the elaborately decorated Beletage. This was the home of the owner. The opulent portal consists of a high arched entrance and two simple doors for pedestrians. Herms flank these entrances. They appear to support the facade above.
Above the entrance gate, a single-axis balcony is adorned with sculptures and stone vases. A delicate wrought-iron grille, considered one of the finest, borders it. A large stone coat of arms of the Breuner family, supported by two cherubs, sits above the balcony door. An eagle-supported helmet adorns the underside of the balcony.
Though the Breuner family owned the Palais Neupauer-Breuner for only a few years, its name remains. The name Ratibor-Palais faded in the 20th century. The Palais Neupauer-Breuner stands today as a reminder of Vienna’s layered past. It is a blend of ambition, artistry, and resilience.