Imagine living in a tower. That’s essentially what Schloss Elsenheim is. This charming castle, also known as Schloss Rehlingen, stands quietly at the corner of Pausingerstrasse and Arenbergstrasse. It is in Salzburg’s Altstadt.
Schloss Elsenheim has a history dating back to 1449. Hans Elsenheimer, a city judge and later mayor of Salzburg, built it. The castle carries his family name to this day. Over the centuries, Schloss Elsenheim passed through different hands. The Rietz family acquired it in 1662. Then, in 1681, the Freiherren von Rehlingen inherited the castle. In 1773, the Rehlingen family significantly remodeled Schloss Elsenheim.
Briefly in the 1850s, the merchant Karl Wedekind owned the house. In 1862, Fürstin Sophie Arenberg purchased Schloss Elsenheim. The castle has witnessed artistic endeavors within its walls. Franz Xaver von Pausinger, a painter, had his studio on the fourth floor. Later, Franz Jung-Ilsenenheim, another Salzburg painter, worked here. You might recognize Jung-Ilsenheim’s dioramas from the Haus der Natur museum.
There was even a plan in the 1980s for an Austrian Academy of Arts. Friedrich M. Welz and Oskar Kokoschka wanted to establish it here. However, it never came to fruition.
Architecturally, Schloss Elsenheim resembles a small, yet elegant tower. It features a flat hipped roof. Also, small decorative towers adorn the north and south sides. The southern tower rests upon rounded arch pillars. A double-flight conglomerate staircase leads to the garden level. The facades we see today date back to the latter half of the 18th century. Schloss Elsenheim is nestled within an extensive park.
Look closely. You will notice the high wall surrounding the property. This makes it difficult to get a full view of the castle from the street. However, the Baroque garden layout is visible via satellite images on Google Maps.
Currently, Schloss Elsenheim is privately owned by the Piech family. They are heirs to the Porsche car empire. Therefore, the castle is not open for public tours. Although you cannot enter, take a moment to appreciate its historical beauty. Schloss Elsenheim stands as a testament to Salzburg’s rich history. It is a hidden gem tucked away in a quiet corner of the city.