Schloss Wilhelminenberg

Schloss Wilhelminenberg is located in Vienna's 16th District (Ottakring), on the Western edge of the city, close to the Wienerwald. The Schloss is today used as a hotel and is located within a park of 120,000 m².

History

In 1781 Field Marshal Franz Moritz Graf von Lascy (Lacy), owner of the Schloss Neuwaldegg, acquired neighboring properties in Predigtstuhl in Ottakring and began with the construction of a new Schloss.

Prior to 1784 the Russian Ambassador to Austria, Prince Demetrius Michalowitsch Galitzin (Galicin) bought from his friend Franz Moritz Graf von Lascy the Predigtstuhl properties and later acquired from the municipality of Ottakring additional forest and meadow lands, which he then converted into a large park. This park was graced by various ponds, a circular temple, "Roman ruins" and a small hunting lodge.

In honor of the charitable contributions of Prince Galitzin on behalf of the municipality of Ottakring, the area became generally known as Galitzinberg.

In 1795 Count Nikolaus Petrowitsch Rumjanzow (Romanzow) inherited from Prince Galitzin, who had died on September 30, 1793, all real estate and the Schloss.

In 1824, after various changes in ownership Prince Julius Montléart and his wife Maria Christine (née Princess of Saxony-Courland) acquired the real estate, together with the Schloss, which was already in need of substantial repair.

In 1838 the Schloss was expanded by addition of two side wings.

On October 19, 1865 Prince Julius Montléart died, presumably at Galitzinberg, thereby causing an inheritance dispute, following which the Galitzinberg was auctioned by court order. The son of the deceased, Prince Moritz von Montléart, acquired the property for 125,000 Gulden, which he then gave as a wedding present for his wife, Wilhelmine, née von Arnold. Because his wish that Galitzinberg be renamed Wilhelminenberg was not officially recognized, the prince arranged that all signs on the entrance driveways to the Schloss refer to "Wilhelminenberg," thereby indirectly achieving the change of name.

On March 16, 1887, Prince Moritz von Montléart died and was interred in a newly-built Neogothic mausoleum near the Schloss. His widow Princess Wilhelmine Montléart distributed his estate generously among their relatives, keeping for herself only her personal property and the income of the Wilhelminenberg. Because of her good deeds and generosity towards the poor, she was known among the local population as the "Angel of Ottakring."

On March 26, 1895, Princess Wilhelmine von Montléart died at the Schloss and was interred next to her husband Moritz.

Between 1903 and 1908 the already badly dilapidated building was demolished and a palace in Neo-Empire style was built according to plans of the architects Eduard Frauenfeld and Ignaz Sowinsky as seat for Austrian archdukes. The construction costs, including for ancillary buildings, were 1.4 million Crowns.

On January 27, 1913 Archduke Rainer died, and his nephew Archduke Leopold Salvator became new owner of the Schloss.

In 1918, during World War I, the Schloss became a military hospital and rehabilitation center for war victims.

In 1922 the building, together with part of the adjacent grounds, were purchased by the Zurich banker Wilhelm Ammann.

On June 26, 1927, the City of Vienna became owner of the Schloss, together with park and ancillary buildings.

On November 12, 1927 the Schloss became an orphanage of the city of Vienna.

Between 1934 and 1938 the Schloss was seat of the Vienna Boys' Choir (Wiener Sängerknaben).

In March 1938 the Schloss was confiscated by the NSDAP (Nazi Party) and transferred to the "Austrian Legion."

During World War II, between 1939 and 1945, the Schloss was used as army hospital, connected to the Wilhelminenspital hospital.

Between 1961 and 1977 the Schloss was used as a dormitory for a special school for girls.

On July 1, 1986, Vice Mayor Hans Mayr announced at a press conference the planned renovation of the Schloss and its conversion into a guesthouse, following which planning began. By November 1987 the reconstruction of the Schloss as a three-star hotel by the holding company WIGAST was underway.

In 1988, after 14 months' construction period and significant investment in stylistically-correct adaptations, "Gästehaus Schloss Wilhelminenberg" was opened.

In 2000, the "Guesthouse" was converted into the "Hotel Schloss Wilhelminenberg."

In May 2003, after a three-year renovation phase, Schloss Wilhelminenberg was recategorized as a four-star hotel.

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