Marmorschlössl

Marmorschlössl, or the Marble Castle, is a historic building in the Imperial Park of Bad Ischl, a town in the Salzkammergut region of Austria. The marble palace was once used by Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth as a breakfast room and a private retreat. It later hosted the first Austrian picture museum and now exhibits special exhibitions on the Salzkammergut and the Imperial House.

The Construction and Design of the Marble Castle

The Marble Castle was built between 1856 and 1861 by Franz Rauch, the Imperial and Royal Court Gardener, for Empress Elisabeth. Rauch used Untersberg marble, a type of limestone from the nearby Untersberg mountain, to construct a two-story residence in the Tudor style. The marble palace was named after the material used for its construction.

The interior of the marble palace was decorated in the neo-Gothic style, with elaborate wall paintings and wood carvings. The large salon, which served as the main room of the palace, featured carved sculptures by Johann Rint from the Nibelungenlied, a medieval epic poem. The sculptures adorned the window and entrance openings, creating a striking contrast with the white marble walls. The imperial coat of arms, the only symbol of power in the palace, was placed above the entrance of the salon.

The Use and Significance of the Marble Castle

The Marble Castle was originally intended as a breakfast room for the Imperial family, who stayed at the Imperial Villa, a nearby holiday residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth. The marble palace was located in the northwest corner of the Imperial Park, above the Imperial Villa, and offered a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape.

The marble palace also served as a place of relaxation and privacy for the Empress, who was known for her love of nature and poetry. She often withdrew to the marble palace to write poems, plan excursions, and make new friends. She also invited guests to the marble palace, such as the Hungarian poet Sándor Petőfi and the Bavarian King Ludwig II. A large black and yellow flag was hoisted at the marble palace whenever the Emperor and the Empress were in Bad Ischl, signaling their presence to the local people.

The marble palace was also enjoyed by the children and grandchildren of the Imperial couple, who played and spent time there. Emperor Franz Joseph wrote to his wife that he often visited their children at the marble palace, “since they were there from morning to evening in the warm weather of the last few days.”

The Fate and Future of the Marble Castle

The Marble Castle survived the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, as it was inherited as personal property by the Emperor’s daughter Marie Valerie and her husband Franz Salvator of Austria-Tuscany. However, the marble palace was used for various purposes after the First World War, such as a milk and coffee shop, a kindergarten, and a storage room. The marble palace fell into decay and was neglected for many years.

In 1975, Markus Habsburg-Lorraine, a descendant of the Imperial family, signed a 50-year lease with the state of Upper Austria. He granted the state the rights to use the marble palace in exchange for the state taking over the maintenance and restoration of the building. In 1978, the marble palace opened as the first Austrian picture museum, displaying the photo collection of Hans Frank, a renowned photographer who captured the life and culture of the Salzkammergut region. The picture museum operated until 2020, when it was closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since April 2020, the marble palace has been a location of O Landes-Kultur GmbH, a cultural institution of the state of Upper Austria. The marble palace hosts special exhibitions on the Salzkammergut and the Imperial House, showcasing the history and heritage of the region and the dynasty. The marble palace also offers guided tours, workshops, and events for visitors of all ages.

The Marble Castle is a unique attraction in Bad Ischl, as it reflects the personal and political history of the Habsburgs, as well as the artistic and cultural diversity of the Salzkammergut.

Bad Ischl, Austria