Schloss Laxenburg
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Schloss Laxenburg or Laxenburg Castle is an imperial palace outside Vienna, in Laxenburg in the state of Lower Austria. The castle became a Habsburg possession in 1333 and formerly served as a summer retreat, along with Schönbrunn palace, for the imperial Habsburg dynasty. The castle was the birthplace of some members of the royal family, including Crown Prince Rudolf. The newer castle, dating from 1745, is named Blauer Hof ("Blue Court"), and there is another castle nearby, named Franzensburg castle.
Today, Laxenburg Castle is used for events, conferences, and concerts. The palace also acts as a museum in preserving the various paintings and furnishings contained within.
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[edit] History
Laxenburg Castle became a Habsburg possession in 1333 and was extended in the 17th century by Lodovico Burnacini. The Blauer Hof (German for: blue court) or Neues Schloss (German for: new castle) was built around 1745 during the reign of empress Maria Theresia and has a Rococo interior.
The church of Laxenburg, which was the first building north of the Alps containing swung facade components (characteristics of the high baroque), was built between 1693 and 1703 by Carlo Antonio Carlone and continued between 1703 and 1724 by Matthias Steinl.
After 1780, the castle garden was rearranged as an English landscape garden. It contains several artificial ponds, and, on an island, the Franzensburg castle, named after emperor Franz I, can be found.
In 1919, the city of Vienna took over the war-damaged castle and became the property owner of the park area of Laxenburg.
After the Anschluss of Austria in 1938, the municipality of Laxenburg became part of the city Vienna. In 1954, the place became independent again and was returned to Lower Austria. Today, Schloss Laxenburg is home to the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, IIASA, a research organization working on global challenges including energy, population and climate change.
Several members of the royal family were born at Laxenburg:
- Archduchess Gisela of Austria, (15 July 1856 in Laxenburg, 27 July 1932 in Munich), Archduchess of Austria-Hungary, daughter of Kaiser Franz Josef I and Kaiserin Elisabeth.
- Crown Prince Rudolf (21 August 1858 in Laxenburg, 30 January 1889 in Mayerling) - son of Kaiser Franz Josef I and Kaiserin Elisabeth.
- Archduchess Elisabeth Marie of Austria, daughter of Crown Prince Rudolf.
[edit] See also
- Hofburg, winter residence of the Austrian royal family.
[edit] References
- German Wikipedia.
