Castles and Palaces In Baden bei Wien
Lower Austrian spa town Baden bei Wien is well-known for its hot springs and wealthy past, which is reflected in the castles and palaces that still stand there today. Among Baden’s most famous castles and palaces are Ruine Raueneck, a 12th-century ruin, Schloss Schönbrunn, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; Schloss Mayerling, a former hunting lodge turned into a Carmelite convent; and Schloss Merkenstein, a romantic mansion created by architects Julius Romano and August Schwendenwein.
Former hunting lodge Schloss Mayerling, sometimes known as Mayerling Castle, was transformed into a Carmelite monastery in 1889. Most people are familiar with the castle from the terrible death of Crown Prince Rudolf and his girlfriend Baroness Mary Vetsera, who were discovered shot in their bed there on January 30, 1889. Now a shrine and museum, the castle displays artifacts and royal couple memorabilia in addition to the chapel constructed over the room where the remains were discovered.
Constructed in the 19th century on the site of a medieval castle, Schloss Merkenstein, sometimes known as Merkenstein Castle, is a picturesque estate. Stain glass windows, pointed arches, a crenellated tower, and decorative elements abound. Currently private and not available to the public, the castle is owned by Count Joachim Eduard von Münch-Bellinghausen.
Built by the noble Rauheneck family, who subsequently changed their name to Tursen, Ruine Raueneck, also known as Raueneck Castle, is a destroyed fortress. Situated advantageously on a hill overlooking the Schwechat river valley, the castle functioned as a centre of administration and defense. At the second siege of Vienna in 1683, the Ottoman Turks demolished the fortress, which then progressively deteriorated.
The Sinzendorf aristocratic family erected Schloss Weikersdorf, also known as Weikersdorf Castle, a Renaissance-style mansion in the sixteenth century. The mansion was subsequently purchased by the Habsburgs and functioned as a summer home and hunting lodge. Today a hotel and meeting venue, the palace features a lovely courtyard, chapel, and rose garden.
The Arnstein knights constructed Schloss Arnstein, sometimes known as Arnstein Castle, in the thirteenth century. The fortress was often besieged and devastated, but in the 19th century it was abandoned and turned into a ruin. It is a well-liked tourist destination nowadays because of its picturesque valley vistas and remnants of walls, towers, and dungeons.
Table Of Contents
- 1 Weikersdorf Castle
- 2 Rauheneck Castle
- 3 Leesdorf Castle
- 4 Villa Eugen
- 5 Rauhenstein Castle
- 6 Villa Rauhenstein
- 7 Scharfeneck Castle
- 8 Related Articles
- 8.1 Baden bei Wien
- 8.2 Churches and Cathedrals In Baden bei Wien
- 8.3 Parks In Baden bei Wien
- 8.4 Golf Courses in Baden bei Wien
- 8.5 Food & Drinks In Baden bei Wien
- 8.6 Top 10 Hotels In Baden bei Wien
- 8.7 Shopping In Baden bei Wien
- 8.8 Things To Do In Baden bei Wien
- 8.9 Activities & Entertainment In Baden bei Wien
- 8.10 Museums In Baden bei Wien
- 8.11 Attractions & Landmarks In Baden bei Wien
- 8.12 Geography Of Baden bei Wien
- 8.13 Demographics Of Baden bei Wien
- 8.14 Economy Of Baden bei Wien
- 8.15 Weather & Climate In Baden bei Wien
- 8.16 History Of Baden bei Wien
- 8.17 Districts & Neighborhoods in Baden bei Wien
- 8.18 Best Time To Visit Baden bei Wien
- 8.19 How To Get To Baden bei Wien
- 8.20 Healing Springs Of Baden bei Wien
- 9 Go Next...
Weikersdorf Castle
Situated in Baden, Lower Austria, Weikersdorf Castle is a Renaissance fortress with a long history that begins in 1268 with the reign of Heinrich and Albero von Weikersdorf. It changed hands several times over the ages, including Matthias Corvinus and the emperor, who gave his forester, Kallenberg, administration. With repairs during Turkish sieges in 1529 and 1683, the castle became a Renaissance-style stronghold with large arcaded courtyards.
Franz Quarient started the new castle land registers in 1705, which are important historical records. After further changes in the late 17th and early 18th century, the castle was given a Baroque appearance with stucco ceilings, facade extensions, and the keep removed. Further additions and repairs were made in the 19th century, including Victor Brausewetter’s terracotta furniture.
The Soviet Army took control of the castle in 1945, and it was left abandoned thereafter. In 1966 the town of Baden bought the castle and its grounds to stop it from deteriorating. In 1968–1971 structural reinforcements were carried out. Industrialist Wilhelm Papst bought the property in 1973 and, with the help of his wife Lotte, restored and enlarged it into a castle hotel. Leading the effort was architect Herbert Ortner Sr., who extended many wings and moved the Mühlbach bed.
First established in 1975, the hotel rose to notoriety when the Italian national soccer team stayed there during Euro 2008. After bankruptcies, ownership was passed to Austria-Hotel-AG in 1992. Weikersdorf Castle is a historical monument today that combines contemporary hospitality with architectural splendor.
Rauheneck Castle
Rauheneck Castle is a medieval-era historic ruin close to Baden, Lower Austria. At first held by Hartung von Ruhenecke, it was crucial in defending transportation routes during the Middle Ages. Ownership of the castle shifted over time, and in 1384 the Walseer family took possession of it. Though the fortress was destroyed several times—most famously by Turkish forces in 1529 and Serbian forces in 1477—it was always rebuilt and enlarged.
The Doblhoff family first let tourists to view the remains around 1810, and in 1961 Baden purchased the castle hill and started restoring it. The main castle has a 13th-century rectangular ring wall with shield wall and ruins of the original battlements. The same-period palas still maintains its 13th-century chamfered notch windows.
The lower half of the castle, which comprises a courtyard and a partly rebuilt apartment structure from the 19th century, is accessed by a renovated 19th-century gate. The 13th-century chapel is oriented south, with a round arch entryway, and an apse without windows.
Legend around the castle tells of a haunting by the tower’s builder, who seeks atonement by making a cradle out of a pine tree that grew out of the tower’s stonework. But the ghost wandered obviously when the tree was damaged by a storm more than a century ago.
As an example of mediaeval architecture and history, Rauheneck Castle provides historical context for the area and is open to tourists as a cultural heritage site.
Leesdorf Castle
The HTL painting school is housed at Leesdorf Castle, a landmark protected property close to Vienna in Baden. At first a portion of Gut Leesdorf, Hugo von Leuisdorf owned the fortress in the twelfth century. Ownership passed over the ages, and in the early eighteenth century, major repairs turned it into a Baroque mansion.
When Dr. Stanislaus Neumister purchased the castle in 1852, he completely renovated it to become an opulent spa hotel, including replacing the original wooden bridge with a stone one. Economic success escaped the project in spite of great hopes, which resulted in later sales and ownership changes. Leading visitors were Prince Nicholas I of Montenegro and Maria Pia of Savoy.
Wide-ranging repairs were place in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with architect Humbert Walcher Ritter von Moltheim supervising changes that matched modern architectural tastes. The castle was passed about several times before the Hartmann Sisters bought it in 1934 and founded the Elisabeth Home for ailing and senior members of their order.
The castle was seized during the National Socialist period and used for a number of things, including sheltering refugees and acting as a Wehrmacht reserve hospital. Returned to the Hartmann Sisters after World War II, it was leased to the artists’ guild, which used the space to open a master’s school.
Villa Eugen
Villa Eugen is a monument of the architectural legacy of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty and late 19th-century design located in Baden bei Wien, Austria. Originally built in the late 1800s by Austrian Archduke Wilhelm, the mansion eventually came to his illustrious military commander nephew, Archduke Eugen. Architect Franz von Neumann’s late historicist villa has towers, avant-corps, and steep hipped roofs that capture the grandeur of the time.
Origins of the villa may be found in Archduke Wilhelm’s wish for a vacation home close to Weilburg, where he grew up. Commissioned in 1882, architect Paul Wasserburger oversaw the three-year building of the home. Beyond the primary structure, it has exquisitely designed subsidiary buildings with exposed brick surfaces, including stables and service quarters.
The villa changed over time to represent changes in ownership and significant historical occurrences. After he received the estate in 1894, Archduke Eugen used it as both his military headquarters and his vacation home. The mansion saw several uses after World War II, notably as Soviet troops’ barracks. Its historical value has been attempted to be restored and preserved even after years of neglect and changes.
As a residential property now, the villa occasionally welcomes visitors for special events and guided tours. The mansion is still a beloved monument, protected by Austrian law, even though its former event center did not maintain success. One of the most famous historic structures in Baden, Villa Eugen embodies the splendor of its past amidst the passing of time and is a monument to the rich architectural and cultural legacy of the area.
Rauhenstein Castle
Probably constructed by the Tursen knights in the twelfth century, the Rauhenstein castle remains are located in the Helenental close to Baden, Austria. Robber barons’ control of Rauhenstein resulted in regular destruction and restoration, much as the neighboring remains of Rauheneck castle. An 18th-century roof tax caused its ultimate collapse and abandonment.
Spa activities gave conservation efforts in 1881 that sought to conserve the remains good feedback. Standing twenty metres tall with walls three metres thick at the base, the keep is the oldest section of the castle, dating back to the twelfth century.
Every year on April 30–May 1st, which is Walpurgis Night, the ruins have hosted the “Ruinenfestl” event since 1993. A Baden Boy Scout and Girl Scout troop is also named for the castle.
The castle has been shuttered since 2017 nevertheless, since ice damage jeopardizes its structural stability. With rehabilitation expenditures projected between several hundred thousand and half a million euros, the individual owner will probably pay the majority of the bill. A long-term access ban may thus be imposed.
Right at the foot of the ruins lies Villa Rauhenstein.
Villa Rauhenstein
Mrs. Anna Löwy had the Villa Rauhenstein constructed in 1894 by master builder Josef Schmidt. Situated at the foot of the Rauhenstein ruins. It is a prominent example of historicist Neo-Baroque and Neo-Renaissance architecture. It became a cultural hub and hosted celebrities like Marlene Dietrich after composer Hugo Wiener and his wife Cissy Kraner bought it. After Wiener died, the house was converted to flats, but it retained its character.
Important sites of interest are the nearby Rauhenstein ruins, which offer a window into medieval history, and the Hugo Wiener Museum, which showcases the life and works of the composer. Previously the hub of social gatherings, the Cissy Kraner Salon is still utilized for cabaret performances. A peaceful sanctuary ideal for outdoor events is the home’s garden.
Apart from its historical significance, the Villa Rauhenstein offers a contemporary experience together with a range of accommodation choices and contemporary comforts. Its convenient position near to Baden’s attractions and transportation hubs draws people seeking comfort and cultural immersion. The villa guarantees that guests will have a great experience within Baden’s rich historical and picturesque fabric whether they enjoy the tranquil garden, see a cabaret, or visit the museum.
Scharfeneck Castle
Probably not as large as its nearby Rauhenstein Castle, Scharfeneck Castle, which is close to Baden, Austria, dates back to about 1100 AD. Rauhenstein was a tactical toll station and defensive bastion; Scharfeneck was less profitable and may have been used as a hunting lodge or summer home because of its elevated position over major trade routes in the Helenental valley. Hungarian invaders particularly targeted the fortress on many occasions in the twelfth and thirteenth century.
Scharfeneck fell from grace in the late 13th century when it was purposefully demolished. But trader Ulrich Kamper acquired and renamed the remains in the fifteenth century, using them as a prestige symbol. Kamper built a chapel and a library and embellished the castle with artworks and antiques. His control was short, and in 1517 the Rauhenstein family reclaimed the castle.
These days, hiking routes from Baden go to Scharfeneck Castle, a protected historical site. Along with ruins of the chapel and library, it has a gatehouse, a circular tower, and a rectangular main structure. Even if Rauhenstein Castle dominates the area, Scharfeneck provides a calm setting for tourists to enjoy history and the natural world. It also inspires both scholars and artists.
