Schloss Hernau

Hidden away from the bustling city, Schloss Hernau stands as a silent witness to Salzburg’s rich history. Schloss Hernau isn’t your typical fairytale castle, open for all to explore. It’s a private residence, tucked away off the Hellbrunner Allee, a place of quiet grandeur. The name “Herrnau” itself echoes back to 1574, referring to the noblemen who once held sway over this land. Imagine Philip Vermeulen, the former chamberlain who first envisioned a grand house on this very spot. His vision materialized in 1631, when he completed the original structure. Schloss Hernau wasn’t destined to remain in his hands for long. In 1685, it passed into the ownership of Johann Jakob Perger, a man of humble beginnings who rose to the rank of nobleman, styling himself “von Pergrain”. The Schloss Hernau we see today owes its elegant form to Hieronymus Nikolaus Anton Christani von Rall, chancellor to Prince Archbishop Firmian. Between 1741 and 1744, he transformed the existing structure into the impressive three-story palace. Von Rall, a controversial figure, played a key role in the expulsion of Protestants from Salzburg in 1732, a decision that shocked much of enlightened Europe. Schloss Hernau has seen a procession of owners since von Rall’s time. The Counts von Quabeck held it briefly before selling it to the Prince of Tuscany in 1805. The Habsburg-Tuscany family, a branch of the main Habsburg line, then passed it on to the Counts of Kuenburg, one of Salzburg’s most distinguished noble families, in 1846. Today, Schloss Hernau rests in the hands of the Clary-Aldringen family, descendants of Bohemian nobility. Though we cannot wander its halls or stroll its well-preserved parks, we can appreciate Schloss Hernau from afar. Its main entrance aligns perfectly with the eastern gates of Hellbrunn Palace, a subtle nod to the interconnected history of these grand estates. Look closely and you’ll see the 18th-century tower, proudly displaying the coats of arms of both Christani von Rall and the Counts of Kuenburg. Schloss Hernau remains a hidden gem, a reminder of Salzburg’s layered past, a story whispered through the centuries.