Villa Seilern... How it all began
The social and cultural meeting point in the 19th Century - since 2008 the core of a diverse hotel world, spa and luxury at its best. A perfect symbiosis of culture, tradition and modern life-style, individual health and well-being feeling!
... How it all began: in the bathing resort of Bad Ischl, "the rich and famous" of the last century met. In the wake of the summer visits of the royal family of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi, there were annually an illustrious group of guests: Emperor Wilhelm I of Prussia, Don Pedro Emperor of Brazil, King Edward VIII of England, senior politicians and statesmen (Chancellor Bismarck, Prince Metternich) queens and empresses, well-known personalities from the arts and science (Anton Bruckner, Johann Strauss, Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms, Johann Nestroy, Alfred Nobel, just to name but a few
... It was "chic" to own a summer residence in Bad Ischl. On June 11th 1881 Countess Elisabeth of Seilern and Aspang, daughter of the Imperial Cellar Master and Calvary Captain Count of Stürgkh and Countess Adelheid of O'Donell von Tyrconell, widow of the late Count Joseph (18/06/1868) of Seilern and Aspang, bought a plot of land from the ROTHAUER family in Bad Ischl for the construction of a villa, in the town where Emperor Franz Josef I, and his court spend the summer.
That same summer, a very prestigious villa on a large scale was planned and built by the Viennese architect Wilhelm Pils. Incidentally, the original construction plans are still in Bad Ischl’s Town Building Department. The neoclassical villa with many elements from the Baroque and Art-Beau-Style enhance the prestigious building design - scan the entire Salzkammergut and there is no comparison. Above the main front door dominates an alliance coat of arms and indicates the building’s owner - the coats of arms of both the Counts of Seilern and the Count's family of Stürgkh.
Elise, daughter of Count of Stürgkh née Countess of Seilern and Aspang, was extremely wealthy and led a socially open house in the Tänzlgasse. There were tea-concerts and theatre performances, famous artists such as Johann Strauss and Alexander Girardi talked to an illustrious crowd. The Countess’ departures were - as so often happened - with four horses and liveried servants causing a huge sensation.
The "Villa Seilern" also offered several times a suitable setting for the summer holidays of Archduke Friedrich (cousin-once-removed of Emperor Franz Joseph's) and his wife Archduchess Isabella and their eight daughters.
One moved into this villa which was "adapted for the richest", that is, it was adapted to the specific housing needs of the family. Also there had to be accommodation for the attendants, cars, wagons and horses. High-ranking individuals were guests at the villa. Also, the heir to the throne Franz Ferdinand was a guest at the house and Archduke Friedrich was hoping that Franz Ferdinand would be interested in one of his eight daughters. The Archduke Ferdinand, however, was in love with the housekeeper, whom he married later - Countess Sofie Chotek. 1914 both were shot in Sarajevo.
Since 2006, the Villa Seilern has become the headquarters of the teachers’ LKUF in Upper Austria.
