Villa Eugen

Villa Eugen is a historic residence located at Weilburgstraße 103–105 in Baden bei Wien, a spa town in Lower Austria. The villa was built in the late 19th century by Archduke Wilhelm of Austria, a member of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and later inherited by his nephew, Archduke Eugen of Austria, a prominent military leader and the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. The villa is a remarkable example of late historicist architecture, featuring a main building with towers and loggias, and a complex of ancillary buildings with stables and service apartments. The villa also boasts a neo-baroque wrought iron portal with a crown and the initial of the builder. The villa has undergone several changes and renovations over the years, and is currently used as a residential building.

The Origins of the Villa

The villa’s origins can be traced back to the personal and professional interests of Archduke Wilhelm of Austria (1827–1894), the youngest son of Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen, and Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg. Wilhelm spent his early years in the neighboring town of Weilburg, where his father resided as the governor of the Duchy of Teschen. Wilhelm maintained a strong connection to the city of Baden, or the municipality of Weikersdorf, for the entirety of his life.

Wilhelm was a career officer in the Austrian army, and participated in several military campaigns, such as the Italian War of 1848–1849, the Second Italian War of Independence, and the Austro-Prussian War. He also held various commands and positions, such as the commander of the 6th Army Corps, the inspector general of the infantry, and the president of the Military Court of Cassation. He was awarded several honors and decorations, such as the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Military Order of Maria Theresa, and the Iron Cross.

Wilhelm was also an avid hunter and sportsman, and enjoyed spending his leisure time in nature. He primarily spent the majority of the summer in Weilburg, where he had access to the extensive forests and hunting grounds of his family. However, in the 1850s, he relocated to the newly constructed Stöckl, which was built by his brother, Archduke Albrecht of Austria (1817–1895), the victor of the Battle of Custoza and the governor of Hungary. The Stöckl was a small hunting lodge located on the slope of the Kleiner Lindkogel, a hill overlooking the city of Baden.

In 1882, Wilhelm decided to construct his own summer residence near Weilburg, located just 300 meters away from the Stöckl, at the base of the Kleiner Lindkogel. He commissioned Franz von Neumann (1844-1905), a renowned architect and professor at the Vienna University of Technology, to plan the construction of a hunting lodge, which would later become known as the villa. The project was overseen by Paul Wasserburger (1824-1903), a master builder, architect, and stonemason from Vienna, who had previously worked on several public and private buildings in Baden, such as the Kurhaus, the Stadttheater, and the Villa Schönau. The construction of the villa took three years, from 1883 to 1886, and cost about 300,000 florins. Finally, in 1886, the usage permit for the villa was granted, and Wilhelm was able to move in and enjoy his new residence.

The Architecture of the Villa

The villa is a two-storey structure situated on sloping terrain, with a total floor area of about 1,000 square meters. It features steep hipped roofs and includes avant-corps and towers. On the southeast corner, there is an open loggia, which offers a panoramic view of the city of Baden and the surrounding hills. The building has light exposed brick wall surfaces and is adorned with rich late historicist decor, such as pilasters, cornices, arches, and friezes. Additionally, the gable zones showcase half-timbered and wooden building elements, which give the villa a rustic and cozy appearance. The building also includes a raised base basement, which contains a wine cellar, a boiler room, and a laundry room.

The interior of the villa is equally impressive, with a variety of rooms and styles. The main entrance leads to a spacious hall, which is decorated with hunting trophies, paintings, and sculptures. The hall also has a fireplace and a staircase, which leads to the upper floor. The ground floor contains the living and dining rooms, the library, the study, the kitchen, and the servants’ quarters. The living and dining rooms are connected by a large sliding door, which can be opened to create a single space for larger gatherings. The library is furnished with bookshelves, a writing desk, and a sofa. The study is equipped with a safe, a telephone, and a telegraph. The kitchen is modern and functional, with a gas stove, a refrigerator, and a dishwasher. The servants’ quarters consist of four bedrooms and a bathroom.

The upper floor contains the bedrooms, the bathrooms, and the guest rooms. The bedrooms are comfortable and elegant, with large windows, wooden floors, and wallpaper. The bathrooms are luxurious and spacious, with marble tiles, bathtubs, showers, and bidets. The guest rooms are cozy and inviting, with floral patterns, carpets, and curtains. The staircase and foyer on the upper floor feature barrel vaults with intricate ribbed meshwork, plastered ridges, hollow and monastery vaults, and mostly stucco-decorated flat ceilings over high valleys.

The ancillary buildings, located to the south of the main building, have a similar design featuring exposed bricks and are marked with the year 1884. These buildings are closed off by offset hipped roofs, which are adorned with numerous dormer windows. The ancillary buildings have a total floor area of about 800 square meters, and are divided into two parts: the stable wing and the coach house. The stable wing is connected to the main building by a covered walkway, and has a separate entrance from the street. The ground floor features spacious stables with wide-span wooden coffered ceilings and utility rooms, such as a harness room, a feed room, and a tack room. The stables can accommodate up to 24 horses, and have direct access to the garden and the riding arena. On the upper floor, you will find the former service apartments, which consist of six bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, and a bathroom. The coach house is located next to the stable wing, and has a large garage for carriages and automobiles, as well as a workshop and a storage room.

The entire area of the villa is enclosed by a lattice fence, with a magnificent neo-baroque wrought iron portal serving as the entrance. The portal is adorned with a crown at the end, positioned above the initial “W” of the builder. The portal also has two lanterns and two statues of lions, which symbolize the power and nobility of the owner. The portal leads to a driveway, which is lined with trees and flowers, and ends at a circular fountain in front of the main building. The garden of the villa is landscaped with lawns, hedges, and flower beds, and also includes a pond, a gazebo, and a tennis court.

The History of the Villa

The villa was named after Archduke Eugen of Austria (1863–1954), the nephew of Archduke Wilhelm, who became its owner in 1894, after the death of his uncle. Eugen was a prominent military leader and the last Grand Master of the Teutonic Order, a Catholic religious and military order founded in the 12th century. Eugen served in the Austrian army for over 60 years, and participated in several wars and campaigns, such as the Boxer Rebellion, the First and Second Balkan Wars, the First and Second World Wars, and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. He also held various commands and positions, such as the commander of the 14th Army Corps, the chief of the general staff, the inspector general of the army, and the supreme commander of the Austrian armed forces. He was awarded several honors and decorations, such as the Order of the Golden Fleece, the Military Order of Maria Theresa, the Iron Cross, and the Knight’s Cross.

Eugen used the villa as his summer residence and his headquarters during the First World War, when he was in charge of the defense of the eastern front. He also hosted several guests and dignitaries at the villa, such as Emperor Franz Joseph I, Emperor Karl I, King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, and Field Marshal Paul von Hindenburg. Eugen was a generous and charitable man, who supported various social and cultural causes, such as the Red Cross, the Caritas, and the Vienna Boys’ Choir. He also donated part of his property and art collection to the city of Baden and the state of Lower Austria.

After the end of the Second World War, the villa was occupied by the Soviet troops, who used it as a barracks and a hospital. The villa suffered some damage and looting during this period, but was later restored and returned to Eugen in 1955, after the signing of the Austrian State Treaty. Eugen died in 1954, at the age of 91, and was buried in the Capuchin Crypt in Vienna, alongside his ancestors. He left the villa to his nephew, Archduke Karl Albrecht of Austria (1888–1951), the son of Archduke Friedrich of Austria, the supreme commander of the Austro-Hungarian army during the First World War. Karl Albrecht was also a military officer and a diplomat, who served as the ambassador of Austria to the Vatican and the Holy See. He was married to Alice Elisabeth Ankarcrona, a Swedish noblewoman, and had four children.

Karl Albrecht sold the villa in 1950 to a private investor, who converted it into a residential building. The villa was divided into several apartments, and some of the original features and furnishings were removed or altered. The villa was also renamed as Villa Weilburg, after the nearby town and castle. The villa remained in private ownership until 1976, when it was acquired by the state of Lower Austria, which planned to restore and preserve the historic building. The restoration project took several years, and involved the collaboration of various experts and institutions, such as the Federal Monuments Office, the Lower Austrian State Museum, and the University of Applied Arts Vienna. The restoration project aimed to restore the original appearance and function of the villa, as well as to showcase its history and significance. The restoration project also included the expansion of the stable wing into an event center, which was intended to host various cultural and social events, such as concerts, exhibitions, and seminars. However, the event center did not achieve the desired level of success, and was eventually closed in 2016.

The villa is currently used as a residential building, with some of the apartments being rented out to tenants. The villa is also occasionally open to the public for guided tours and special events, such as the European Heritage Days. The villa is a protected monument under the Austrian law, and is considered one of the most important and valuable historic buildings in Baden.

Baden bei Wien, Austria