A hidden gem awaits you. This is the Palais Thurn-Valsassina a true Viennese treasure. Nestled on the corner of Rainergasse and Johann-Strauss-Gasse it often goes unnoticed. Its unassuming facade belies a rich history spanning centuries.
The Palais Thurn-Valsassina’s main building dates back to around the mid-18th century. It started as a part of the imperial Vice-dom office. Later it became the property of the Lower Austrian Estates. Joseph Christoph Zorn von Löwenfeld is thought to have been the builder of the main structure we see today. Franz Freiherr von Schaffalitzky owned it between 1812 and 1821. He had the section facing Wiedner Hauptstrasse added.
In 1857 sculptor Hanns Gasser bought the Palais Thurn-Valsassina. He added a neo-Gothic side wing in 1858. This housed his studio. Imagine the creative energy that once filled these walls. Gasser’s works included the famous Danube Maiden statue in Stadtpark. He also created a fountain near the Vienna State Opera.
A fascinating detail is the artificial rock group in the garden. It’s made of slag from a brick kiln. The garden also holds old boundary stones dating back to 1696. Several gravestones from the demolished Siechenhaus church are there too. This church was torn down in 1796.
The Palais Thurn-Valsassina also boasts a charming fountain. Its Putto with Fish figure is a copy of a detail from Donner’s Providentia Fountain in the Neuen Markt. A tower once stood here but it was demolished in 1878. Later the southern wing was added in 1894 by architect Max Kaiser. This was commissioned by Vinzenz Graf Thurn-Valsassina who owned the palace from 1893.
The Palais Thurn-Valsassina’s eclectic architecture reflects its layered history. It blends different styles and periods. The main building is early-modern. The side wings are neo-Gothic and late-historicist. The courtyard is an elegant inner space. It truly is a unique architectural ensemble. Notice the beautiful contrasts.
For many years the Palais Thurn-Valsassina was the center of a vibrant artistic circle. Author Ada Christen lived here. This attracted many renowned figures such as Ludwig Anzengruber Ludwig Ganghofer Rudolf von Alt and Friedrich Amerling. They gathered here for artistic exchanges and intellectual discussions.
After the war the Thurn-Valsassina family sold the Palais to the Wiener Städtische Versicherungsanstalt. Today it is divided into apartments. It still retains its old-world charm. The Palais Thurn-Valsassina stands as a silent testament to Vienna’s rich past. It continues to enchant those who discover its secrets.