Kaiservilla Bad Ischl

The Kaiservilla, located in the picturesque town of Bad Ischl in Upper Austria, was the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth of Austria, also known as Sisi. The house, which is now home to their great-grandson, Archduke Markus Emanuel Salvator, has witnessed many historical events and hosted many distinguished guests. It is also a fine example of neoclassical architecture and a beautiful park.

The History of the Kaiservilla

The Kaiservilla was originally a modest Biedermeier-style mansion built in 1834 by Josef August Eltz, a Viennese notary. In 1850, it was bought by Eduard Mastalier, a doctor. Three years later, it became a wedding gift for Emperor Franz Joseph I and Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria, who got engaged in Bad Ischl. The gift was from Franz Joseph’s mother, Archduchess Sophie, who wanted to provide a comfortable and private retreat for the young couple.

The house underwent several renovations and expansions in the following years, under the supervision of Anton(io) Le Grenzi, Franz Joseph’s first personal valet and a lover of art. Le Grenzi transformed the house into a neoclassical palace, with a grand entrance on the park side, adorned with columns and a tympanum. He also added two side wings, forming an “E” shape, perhaps as a homage to the empress. The house was completed in 1860, after a decade of work.

The Kaiservilla was surrounded by a vast English-style landscape park, designed by Franz Rauch. The park featured a marble castle, which served as a cottage for Elisabeth, and which now houses the Photomuseum of the Upper Austrian State Museums. It also had a white marble fountain, created by Viktor Tilgner in 1884, and various outbuildings, such as the kitchen, the gardener’s house, and the music school. The imperial estate also owned the Jainzenberg hill, where there were walking paths, viewpoints, and hunting grounds.

The Life at the Kaiservilla

The Kaiservilla was the favorite summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I, who spent almost every year from July to August there. He enjoyed the fresh air, the nature, and the tranquility of Bad Ischl, away from the pressures and troubles of Vienna. He also celebrated his birthday on August 18th at the Kaiservilla, often with fireworks and festivities.

The emperor was accompanied by his wife, Empress Elisabeth, who shared his love for Bad Ischl, but who also sought freedom and independence from the rigid court protocol. She spent her time riding, hiking, reading, writing, and visiting her friends. She also had a close relationship with Katharina Schratt, a famous actress and the emperor’s confidante, who lived nearby in the Villa Felicitas. Schratt often joined the imperial couple for breakfast and walks in the region.

The Kaiservilla also welcomed many illustrious guests, such as other monarchs, diplomats, artists, and relatives. Among them were Franz Joseph’s daughters, Archduchesses Gisela and Valerie, and their families, who stayed at the Griesvilla on the opposite bank of the Traun river. The emperor also received official visitors, such as the German Emperor Wilhelm II, the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, and the British King Edward VII, who discussed political and military affairs with him.

The Fate of the Kaiservilla

The Kaiservilla was the scene of one of the most fateful decisions in history. On July 28, 1914, in his study in the west wing of the house, Emperor Franz Joseph I signed the declaration of war on Serbia, following the assassination of his nephew and heir, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, in Sarajevo. He also issued the manifesto An Meine Völker! (To My Peoples!), announcing the outbreak of the First World War, which would eventually lead to the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the end of the Habsburg dynasty.

The emperor died in 1916, and left the Kaiservilla to his youngest daughter, Archduchess Marie Valerie, who had married Archduke Franz Salvator of the Austria-Tuscany branch of the family. Since the Kaiservilla was a private property of the Habsburgs, and since Franz Salvator and Marie Valerie renounced any claims to the throne, the house remained in their possession even after the fall of the monarchy in 1918. Their son, Hubert Salvator Habsburg-Lorraine, inherited the house, and passed it on to his son, Markus Emanuel Habsburg-Lothringen, who is the current owner.

The Kaiservilla Today

The Kaiservilla is a protected monument, and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bad Ischl. It is open to the public from May to October, and offers guided tours of the original rooms and furniture, as well as exhibitions of historical documents and photographs. The visitors can also enjoy the park, which has been preserved in its original early historicist style, and which is one of the most important gardens in Austria. The Kaiservilla is a living testimony of the history and culture of the Habsburg era, and a place of beauty and charm.

Bad Ischl, Austria