Das historische

Palais Auersperg

The Palais Auersperg was built between 1706 and 1710 according to the plans of the Baroque architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and Lukas von Hildebrandt.

Since then, the Palais Auersperg has been one of the focal points of European music, political, and social history: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn, and Christoph Willibald Gluck made their contribution to world music here.

The noble families of Rofrano, Kinsky, Sachsen-Hildburghausen, Auersperg, and the Swedish royal house of Wasa conducted major political affairs in the Palais and created a manifestation of aristocratic splendor with opulent festivities.

Even in the difficult days of the Second World War, the house next to the Vienna Hofburg played a key role in history: in the extensive cellars of the Palais, the resistance fighters of the O5 met, prevented the destruction of Vienna, and laid the foundation for a new, free Austria.

State Rooms

Palais Park

5,000 m² palace park: Shielded from the surrounding streets by buildings and accessible only through the palace, it forms a green, idyllic oasis in the heart of the city.

Library & Loggia

Elegant and refined, with the warmth of crafted wood, these two rooms provide the perfect extension to the adjoining Winter Garden or the Crown Prince Rudolf Hall. The domed ceiling, the twisted column, and the elaborate wood paneling give the loggia an air of excellence despite its small size.

Winter Garden

The largest interconnected ensemble of the palace: the Winter Garden, with its high glass roof, forms a striking contrast to the Old Restaurant with its romantic landscape paintings and the Music Salon adorned with stucco and tapestries.

Crown Prince Rudolf Hall

The Crown Prince Rudolf Hall, decorated in white and gold, exudes the cool elegance of classicism. Next to it are the ochre-colored Emperor’s Hall and the Idomeneo Hall with its sienna-red marble walls.

Maria Theresien Hall

In the north wing of the palace lies the Maria Theresia Hall, featuring white and gold Empire-style stoves, valuable silk tapestries with antique motifs, and an elegant parquet floor. The Gluck Gallery provides a fitting entrance to it.

Rosenkavalier Hall

The center of the palace: remarkable for its oval shape, impressive height, excellent acoustics, and magnificent décor featuring marble pilasters, crystal chandeliers, and a relief frieze by Henrici. Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Richard Strauss paid literary and musical tribute to Palais Auersperg in Der Rosenkavalier, commemorated in the naming of the Festival Hall.

History

1721

From Inherited Sale to Architectural Jewel

However, his heirs sold the property in 1721 to Marchese Girolamo Capece di Rofrano, Postmaster General in Italy. In the same year, master builder Johann Christian Neupauer carried out numerous changes and additions according to plans by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach.

After the death of Marchese Rofrano, his minor son Peter inherited the Palais, but died at the age of 19. Hugo von Hofmannsthal set him an unforgettable literary monument in the figure of Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier.”

1721

1777 to 1837

From Royal Splendor to Cultural Heritage

In 1777, Johann Adam Prince of Auersperg, then High Chamberlain and Hereditary Marshal of Tyrol, acquired the Palais.

The Auerspergs restored the building and attached great importance to the redesign of the interior in the style of classicism. Josef Karl Henrici created the stucco work and Niccolo Rossi created the ceiling painting in the festival hall, which unfortunately no longer exists.

In 1781, the Austrian premiere of Mozart’s “Idomeneo” took place in the Palais Auersperg under the direction of the composer.

1827-1837 – the Palais functioned as the royal Swedish exile court of the Wasa family.

1777 to 1837

19th Century

From Baroque to English Style

In the 19th century, some structural changes were made, including the redesign of the Baroque garden into an English landscape garden. Due to an increase in the street level and the later extension of the facade, there was an optical impairment of the exterior and so the column structure of the strongly projecting central avant-corps was erected in 1885 according to a design by Gangolph Kayser.

19th Century

1944 to 2000

From Historical Heritage to Central War and Peace Stage

The Auersperg family remained the owner of the Palais until 1944, when the Croy-Dülmen family inherited it.

The Palais Auersperg played an important role towards the end of the Second World War – towards the end of the war, it was the seat of the Austrian resistance movement 05.

In the first days of peace, discussions also took place in the Palais Auersperg, in which the Austrian politicians were able to agree on a new civil administration.

The Palais Auersperg was also the seat of the Inter-Allied Military Police between 1945 and 1955.

The former carriage passage was converted into an oval hall after 1945. In 1948, the reconstruction of the building, which had been badly damaged in the Second World War, began. In 1955 and 2000, the Palais was completely renovated and presented itself for a long time as one of the most sought-after and exclusive MICE venues in the republic.

1944 to 2000

2004 to Today

From Cultural Diversity to Economic Challenges

Between 2004 and 2024, the piano nobile and the park of the Palais were rented by Belco Palaisvermietungs GesmbH and successfully sublet for many very different events. From international congresses to school balls, press conferences and film shoots to the daily classical concerts of the Vienna Residence Orchestra.

In 2023, increased noise pollution and noise disturbances in the building, which disturbed concerts, as well as significant differences with the new owner of the Palais, led to severe restrictions on the business operations of BELCO Palaisvermietungs GesmbH, which is why the company had to file for bankruptcy in February 2024.

2004 to Today

Classical Concerts in the Palais Auersperg

From 2004 to 2024, the Vienna Residence Orchestra continued the great musical tradition of the house and held its daily classical concerts in the Palais Auersperg.

The Vienna Residence Orchestra is one of the best chamber orchestras in the world: each individual musician is a recognized soloist, the orchestra is a guest in the great concert halls of the world: Mexico City, Montevideo, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Athens, Budapest are just a few of the stations that the orchestra visited with its guest conductor Rudolf Nurejev.

Under the musical direction of greats such as Robert Lehrbaumer, Giuseppe Montesano and Prof. Christian Pollack as well as the guest conductors Gerhard Lagrange, Daniel- Hoyem Cavazza and many others, the Vienna Residence Orchestra performed daily in the Rosenkavalier Hall of the Palais Auersperg.

In large and small ensembles, with famous soloists and those who were yet to become famous, ballet dancers and with musical delicacies that are based on the respective seasonal motto.

The daily concerts now take place in the old stock exchange, the Vienna Konzerthaus and the most beautiful historical Palais in Vienna. Further information and tickets can be found on the website of the Vienna Residence Orchestra.