Schloss Rothmühle

Is this where the magic happened? Schloss Rothmühle stands before us. It’s a place brimming with history and intriguing stories. This grand Baroque palace wasn’t always so grand. Its beginnings in the 14th century were humble. It served various purposes over the years. It started as a mill. Later it transformed into a cloth factory, then a leather tannery, and even housed workers at one point. Through it all, the name “Mühle,” meaning “mill,” stuck. It went from “Mühle in dem Grunde derhalben des Wazzers” (referring to the Schwechat River), to “Mühle am nidern Grund,” and finally to “Rothe Mühle.” This eventually simplified to “Rothmühle,” the name it carries today. In the late 17th century, Rothmühle underwent a significant transformation into the Baroque palace we see now. One of the most captivating chapters in the history of Schloss Rothmühle involves the famous physician, Franz Anton Mesmer. He married Anna Maria Posch, the castle’s owner. Mesmer is known for his work with magnetism and its effect on the human body. It was during their time here that a young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart visited the palace on September 22, 1773. Mozart’s connection to the castle is even believed to have inspired his opera “Così fan tutte.” The characters Guglielmo and Ferrando undergo a comical healing based on “Mesmer’s methods.” Today, Schloss Rothmühle stands as a testament to time. It serves as a cultural center. It beautifully blends its storied past with a vibrant present.