Palais Trautson

Tucked away in Vienna’s 7th district, stands a magnificent example of Baroque architecture: Palais Trautson. Don’t let its current role as the home of the Austrian Ministry of Justice fool you. This palace holds a story as grand as its facade. Designed by the celebrated architect Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in 1712, Palais Trautson was originally commissioned by Count Johann Leopold Donat of Trautson. Inspired by the Amsterdam City Hall, this palace quickly became the epicenter of Vienna’s high society. Imagine lavish balls, exhilarating gambling nights, and secret rendezvous all taking place within these very walls. In 1760, the palace caught the eye of Empress Maria Theresa. She purchased it for the hefty sum of 40,000 Gulden to house the prestigious Royal Hungarian Guards. This period saw the palace undergo significant changes, including the transformation of its beautiful gardens into a training ground for the guards. While the palace interiors, with its famed “Sala Terrena” and grand staircase adorned with sphinxes and atlases, are no longer open to the public, take a moment to admire its impressive exterior. The central avant-corps, crowned with intricate wrought ironwork and adorned with figures depicting ancient gods, whispers tales of a glorious past. Palais Trautson stands as a testament to Vienna’s rich history, a silent sentinel guarding the echoes of emperors, countesses, and the legendary Hungarian Guard.