History of Castle Neuwaldegg

Castle Neuwaldegg is EICEE's Headquarter in Vienna, Austria

The wooded hill commanding a view of Vienna, upon which Schloss Neuwaldegg is situated, has a rich history of at least 700 years. The first mention of a 'Schloss Waldeckh' in historical documents dates to 1309. Little more is known, until the land was bought by a cavalry officer from Lower Austria, Stefan Agler, almost two hundred years later. The farmstead then located on the hill was transformed into a grander edifice, the focus of the estate that he named 'Neuwaldegger Hof'. Ferdinand I gave jurisdiction over the area bordering the estate to Agler, ennobling his family.

In 1591, the Agler family sold the castle, which passed through many hands until it was inherited in 1659 by Margarethe (né Absensperg-Traun) wife of Graf Ferdinand Buquoy. The turbulent period of the Turkish Wars left the nearly two-century-old castle in ruins. The remaining materials were used in the reconstruction of local buildings, especially the parish church in Dornbach. The widowed Margarethe married the Chancellor of the royal court, Theodor Heinrich Althet Graf von Straatmann in 1691. Thus the property passed into the possession of the Straatmann family.

Graf von Straatmann immediately set about the construction of a summer residence. Unlike the former building, Straatmann's garden palais was to be built at the top of the hill overlooking the city. As Straatmann was a good friend of the famous architect, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach, it can be assumed that the construction of his "Lustbäu" (summer house) along with another Palais in the city centre was entrusted to Fischer von Erlach. It is even said that Graf von Straatmann recommended Fischer von Erlach, the future tutor of Emperor Josef I, to the imperial court. Although Straatmann died during construction in 1693, his wife and sons finished the building and gardens. The oldest existant drawing of Schloss Neuwaldegg, dated 1706, displays the finished product.

Two years later, however, Freiherr von Bartholotti, acquired the property. He set about restoring and expanding the gardens, necessitating the deforestation of a huge part of the premises. The new owner commissioned many statues, vases and other stone ornamentation from the artist Pietro Silvester de Carradeo. Bartholotti also built a small chapel in the style of the schloss in the valley below, which he dedicated to St. Anne at the end of the plague in 1717.

The next significant owner of Schloss Neuwaldegg was Graf Franz Moritz von Lacy who took control in 1765. For the next twenty years, Graf Lacy was too preoccupied with official duties to tend to his new acquisition. As president of the war ministry, he reorganized the Austrian army, but, after a defeat during the Turkish siege of 1788-89, he receded from public service. The Count made major changes to the façade, renewed the frescos in the Mirror Room (today Fresco Room) and enlarged the castle on the north wing. Most significantly, he laid out vast English gardens in the direction of the Vienna Woods, which earned renown as the most beautiful gardens of this type in the 18th century.

The present day property no longer includes these lands, which were sold to the city of Vienna in 1985. However, several ancillary buildings dating to this period remain: the 'Badhaus' (Turkish baths), built beneath the baroque garden, a large Porter House, as well as a stable and storehouse.

In 1801 Graf Lacy died, and Fürst Joseph Johann Nepumuk zu Schwarzenberg inherited the premises. Due to financial difficulties the vast "Neuwaldegger Park" could not be kept up, and the famous English garden became overgrown. Nonetheless, the Schwarzenberg family kept up an elegant life at Schloss Neuwaldegg, hosting dignitaries and artists, including poet Werner Zacharias, for a century and a half. In the mid-twentieth century, the castle was transferred to the possession of the Archdiocese of Vienna. The lands making up the estate were progressively sold off.

Finally, in 2002, Schloss Neuwaldegg was acquired by the Educational Initiative for Central and Eastern Europe. The new owners immediately began extensive renovations which have brought back much of the building's former glory. Restoration of the Fresco Room from major water damage revealed 18th century frescos which are now fully restored. The so-called Belle Etage, was completely renovated in 2003-2004. At the end of that year, modern accommodations for over 70 people were completed in the north wing. Finally, in 2005, the ground floor of the main building was beautifully reappointed and a library and dining facilities installed in the basement. Once again, Schloss Neuwaldegg is able to show her splendour to cultural and social leaders at a wide variety of events.