The joy of
country living at
Schloss Eckartsau
History is always connected to stories. At Schloss Eckartsau, these stories are about happiness and love, fateful days and the end of the monarchy. To this day, it feels like the imperial family has only recently been here. That is how much the fate of the Habsburgs can still be felt. The exceptional setting of the castle and park is not only ideal for a visit, but can also be used for special celebrations.
Love, hunting and passions
Whenever Archduke Franz Ferdinand felt like a change of scenery, he came to Schloss Eckartsau. It was perfect for an imperial time-out: the Austrian heir to the throne brought the picturesque hunting lodge to life in 1897. A passionate conservationist and technical visionary, he ensured that as much of the Baroque substance as possible was preserved. At the same time, he had the castle fitted with electric lighting and modern toilet facilities.
In the floodplain forests surrounding the palace gardens, which were rich in game, the emperor’s nephew was able to pursue his passion for hunting – and his secret love. Countless trophies still adorn the armoury to this day. Some of them are embellished with the letter S: these are the hunts in which his future wife participated. Sophie Countess Chotek, a lady-in-waiting of Bohemian nobility. He had to hide his inappropriate relationship with her for a long time. Only when Franz Ferdinand renounced his claim to the throne for his successors were the two allowed to marry. An unusual step for the time, which confirmed his deep affection.
Today you can still say „I do“ at Schloss Eckartsau. In the stylish rooms, in the wedding pavilion or under the romantic beech canopy.
The last act
The final chapter in the history of the monarchy was opened at Schloss Eckartsau. With the Empire in ruins, Charles I, his wife Zita and their five young children left Schloss Schönbrunn in November 1918. While the Republic was being proclaimed in Vienna, the deposed Emperor decided to wait for developments in Eckartsau. He intended to come here to recharge his batteries and give the children a few happy days in the great outdoors. It was to be the imperial family’s last stay in Austria before going into exile.
Only two days after his arrival, Charles signed the Hungarian Declaration of Renunciation in the Grey Salon. The original desk on which this last official act of state by an Austro-Hungarian monarch was signed is a reminder of this. It is the exact desk that the last emperor often placed outside because he loved the atmosphere of the palace park during his summer holidays. It is not the last remaining witness to the Danube Monarchy. Many details of the Imperial Hunting Lodge reflect the eventful history of the Habsburgs, which ended here after almost 650 years.
Tips
The Gift of Trees
Children love this natural discovery site: here, they can play all year round, be creative and learn lots of exciting things about the alluvial forest and its special characteristics through the life story of an old tree.
WILD°WECHSEL National Park exhibition
"From imperial hunting ground to national park": hunt through time, find your way through the floodplain forests and become part of history. Admission to the interactive exhibition is free!
The English landscape park
This historic jewel of a park offers a unique natural experience and connects directly to the Donau-Auen National Park. This spacious idyll is open all year round and admission is free.
182
windows offer views in and out
1.300
works of art & furniture are presented
98
species of trees can be found in the castle park
When do deer let
their “fists” do
the talking?
Antlers off, boxing gloves on: red deer also fight after shedding their antlers. Then, they stand up on their hind legs and hit each other with their front legs.
We fight like heavyweights in the ring.
Love is the
best diet.
Do you know what
stresses a red deer?
The mating season – also known as the rut – is very strenuous for male red deer: During this time, they lose up to a third of their weight.
How quickly do deer antlers grow?
The tissue of a deer's antlers grows at a faster rate than any other tissue in the world. In summer, the antlers can grow up to two centimetres a day.
I grow new antlers every year!
I fly faster than you can run.
Did you know that deer can sense magnetic fields?
When deer are asleep or resting, they orient themselves to the Earth's magnetic field, pointing north and south like compass needles.
What do you notice about a deer’s mouth?
Deer used to have long, sharp canines. You can still see two dark spots on their lower lip today: That is the exact spot where their fangs used to be.
We used to fight each other tooth and nail.
