Hotel zur Post

Hotel zur Post Bad Ischl is a historic hotel in the spa town of Bad Ischl, Austria. It was the oldest hotel in the Salzkammergut region and hosted many famous guests, including members of the European royalty, politicians, artists, and scientists. The hotel was built in 1827/28 by Franz and Magdalena Koch, who also ran the imperial post office and the stables for the postal horses. The hotel was expanded several times in the 19th century and received a splendid facade in 1895. The hotel was especially popular with Emperor Franz Joseph I and his wife Elisabeth (Sisi), who spent their summers in Bad Ischl and often visited the hotel for social events, concerts, and meals. The hotel also witnessed some important historical moments, such as the signing of the declaration of war against Serbia in 1914, which triggered World War I, and the meeting of Otto von Bismarck and Theodor Herzl in 1898, which discussed the possibility of a Jewish state in Palestine.

The Origins of the Hotel

The Hotel zur Post was built in 1827/28 by Franz and Magdalena Koch, who were both involved in the postal service. Franz Koch was a former postmaster in Ebensee and the owner of another inn in Ischl, called Zum Goldenen Hirschen (today’s Sparkasse). He transferred the postal rights and the post office to the new hotel, which was originally named Gasthof zur Post or Posthof. The hotel also had stables for up to 120 horses, which were used for the postal routes to Ebensee, Aussee, and Salzburg. The horses were grazed at a nearby alpine pasture, called Postalm, which is still a popular destination for hikers and skiers today.

The hotel was managed by Franz Koch’s son, Franz Koch junior, from 1833 to 1871, and then by his grandson, Ludwig Koch, until 1919. The last Koch to run the hotel was Dr. Ludwig Koch, who died in 1939. The Koch family expanded and renovated the hotel several times in the 19th century, incorporating the old benefactor’s house and the Wirer hospital, which were adjacent to the hotel. They also added a dining room wing in 1864, and gave the hotel a representative facade in 1895, which is now a protected monument.

The Glory Days of the Hotel

The Hotel zur Post was not only a place for travelers and postal workers, but also a hub for social and cultural life in Bad Ischl. The hotel hosted many famous guests, such as composers, writers, artists, politicians, and royalty. Some of the most notable visitors were:

Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi), who spent their honeymoon at the hotel in 1854, and returned several times afterwards. The hotel has a suite named after them, which preserves the original furniture and decor from their stay.
Franz Lehár, the operetta composer, who lived and worked at the hotel from 1912 to 1940. He wrote some of his most popular works, such as The Merry Widow, The Land of Smiles, and The Count of Luxembourg, in his room at the hotel. The hotel also has a suite named after him, which displays his piano and memorabilia.
Johann Strauss II, the waltz king, who stayed at the hotel in 1871 and 1872, and composed the Ischler Waltz in honor of the town and the hotel.
Arthur Schnitzler, the Austrian playwright and novelist, who visited the hotel in 1897 and 1901, and wrote about his impressions in his diary and letters.
Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, who stayed at the hotel in 1913, a year before his assassination in Sarajevo, which triggered World War I.
Adolf Hitler, the Nazi dictator, who visited the hotel in 1938, after the annexation of Austria. He met with the local Nazi leaders and gave a speech from the balcony of the hotel.

The hotel was also a venue for many balls, concerts, theater performances, and celebrations, especially during the summer season, when Bad Ischl attracted many tourists and spa guests. The hotel had a large and elegant dining room, which featured a coffered ceiling with medallions, depicting arabesques, animals, and fruits. The hotel also had a popular wine cellar, called the Postkeller, which was a meeting place for locals and visitors alike.

The Decline and Transformation of the Hotel

The Hotel zur Post lost its prominence and popularity after World War II, as the tourism and spa industry in Bad Ischl declined. The hotel was closed in 1988, and converted into private apartments, offices, surgeries, restaurants, and shops, as well as an underground parking garage. The Postkeller was sealed off and is no longer accessible. The hotel’s back wing, which faced the Schulgasse, was demolished in 1964, to make room for a garden. The street where the hotel is located was renamed from Poststrasse to Pfarrgasse in 1951.

The former Hotel zur Post is still a historic landmark in Bad Ischl, and a reminder of the town’s rich and diverse past. The hotel has also been used as a filming location for several movies and TV shows, such as the TV series Der Salzbaron, which was based on a novel by Johannes Mario Simmel. The hotel is open to the public, and visitors can admire the facade, the marble gateway, and the suites dedicated to Franz Joseph, Sisi, and Lehár. The hotel also has a plaque, which commemorates its history and its famous guests.

Bad Ischl, Austria