Press information Schloss Hof Estate Schloss Niederweiden A site belonging to
Schloss Hof Estate The idyllic imperial summer residence in the Marchfeld. Just an hour to the east of Vienna in the Marchfeld region of Lower Austria lies the palatial Baroque ensemble of Schloss Hof Estate, extending over an area of more than seventy hectares. Once an imperial country seat, it was one of the most magnificent palaces in the Habsburg Empire. Built for the legendary military commander Prince Eugene of Savoy in 1725, the palace was subsequently remodeled and extended under Empress Maria Theresa, becoming the largest rural palatial complex in Austria. A stately residence, ornate terraced gardens and a tranquil estate farm combine to form a unique blend of imperial splendor and rural idyll. Schloss Hof Estate was renowned even during the time of Prince Eugene as the scene of magnificent festivities. Today the legacy of these opulent entertainments lives on in numerous events for all the family and annual temporary exhibitions. The palace Following the authentic restoration of the apartments occupied by Maria Theresa and Emperor Joseph II together with meticulously restored furniture from the time of Prince Eugene, the state rooms of the palace are once again as resplendent as they were when first embellished by the finest artists of their time. Intended to demonstrate the taste, wealth and social status of their imperial owners, these rooms on the piano nobile are today used for presentations and temporary exhibitions. The gardens Descending gently in seven terraces towards the river March, the Baroque gardens evoked even more admiration than the palace among contemporaries during the eighteenth century. The elaborate broderie parterres, tranquil pergola walks and decorative pools and fountains today, as then, provide an idyllic refuge for hours of relaxation. Prince Eugene s great passion for plants is also evident in the Orangery, comprising two hothouses of impressive technical and architectural mastery. The estate farm Everyday life in the Baroque era comes alive at Schloss Hof Estate. At the picturesque manor farm heritage varieties of herbs, fruit and vegetable flourish, all of which can be sampled in the Weinviertel Cottage Garden, the Nibbling Garden and the Allerlei Garden. Authentically equipped artisan workshops demonstrate the arts of wood-turning, pottery and basket-weaving, while the hammock garden offers visitors a chance to relax in the shade of ancient walnut trees. The hands-on displays in the new Children s and Family Centre in the Bäckenhof enable our youngest visitors to Page 2/6
have fun learning about the provisioning of a palace during the Baroque age. But the main attraction at the manor farm are its animal inhabitants: numbering 240 animals, including many rare Old Austrian domestic breeds such as Norica horses, Wallachian and Racka sheep, four-horned goats and white donkeys, they all look forward to a visit. A place where the imperial family came to relax Maria Theresa was the first of the Habsburgs to fall for the unique charms of Schloss Hof Estate. She came here with her large family in order to afford the soul relief from the burdens of ruling, as it says in the empress s inscription on the garden side of the palace. Today the palace and its grounds still offer an idyllic refuge for hours of relaxation and experiencing the enchantment of the Baroque. Page 3/6
The hunting lodge at Niederweiden A jewel of Baroque architecture and scene of magnificent festivities and receptions in historically significant surroundings. The particular charm of Schloss Niederweiden lies in the gracefulness of its architecture. Designed partly in the style of a French château de plaisance and partly on the model of a northern Italian patrician villa, it harmoniously marries the Baroque requirement for outward display with rustic cosiness. Designed by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, Schloss Niederweiden (then still known as Schloss Engelhartstetten) was built for Count Ernst Rüdiger von Starhemberg in 1693/94. In 1726 Prince Eugene of Savoy purchased the hunting lodge, one year after acquiring the nearby manor of Hof as his country residence and hunting seat. Like Schloss Hof Estate, Schloss Niederweiden mainly acquired its present-day appearance during the reign of Maria Theresa. Her court architect, Nicolaus von Pacassi, added another storey in 1765, and many of the rooms were decorated and furnished in the Chinese style that was highly fashionable at the time. A particularly graceful example of this style is the Great Hall with its mural paintings by Jean- Baptiste Pillement. From the dado grow exotic trees, their trunks decorated with musical instruments and their crowns reaching to the ceiling, while the panels between them frame seated oriental musicians. In order to ensure that illustrious guests could be catered for in keeping with their status Fischer von Erlach designed a game kitchen in one of the ancillary buildings. Two open hearths were built, large enough to accommodate a whole deer on a spit or cook large pieces of game on a gridiron. Three hundred years after it was built, this room has been furnished in its original style and once again emanates an authentic atmosphere of Baroque cosiness. In these historical surroundings parties of fifteen to thirty-five people can enjoy a truly princely meal by romantic candlelight. An added attraction at Schloss Niederweiden is its extensive garden with age-old trees and tranquil paths. Page 4/6
Schloss Hof Estate and Schloss Niederweiden Locations Schloss Hof Estate Schloss Hof 1 2294 Schloßhof Phone: +43 2285 20 000 E-mail: office@schlosshof.at Website: www.schlosshof.at Schloss Niederweiden Niederweiden 1 2292 Engelhartstetten Phone: +43 2285 20 000 E-mail: office@schlosshof.at Website: www.schlosshof.at Proprietor 100% Republic of Austria Represented by the Federal Ministry for Digital, Business and Enterprise Management Mag. Klaus Panholzer, Managing Director Opening hours Schloss Hof Estate March 15 to November 18, 2018: daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. November 18 to December 31, 2018 (except December 24): daily 10 a.m. 4 p.m. Schloss Niederweiden March 15 to November 18, 2018: daily 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Page 5/6
Press contact: Mag. a Petra Reiner Cooperate Communications and Spokesperson +43 1 811 13 461, reiner@schoenbrunn.at Mag. a Evelyn Larcher Press and Public Relations +43 1 811 13 340, larcher@schoenbrunn.at Last update: 2018/01/31 Page 6/6