Enchanting Hof Castle: An Amazing Journey Through Time And Majesty
Discover the Legacy of Prince Eugene of Savoy
With my friends, we visited Hof Castle, located about an hour away from Vienna (Austria).
The Hof Castle Estate covers 70 hectares in eastern Lower Austria. It includes a beautiful two-story palace, gardens, and a farm.
Luckily, the weather was fantastic, allowing me to capture these wonderful shots.
This day trip provides an excellent program for both couples and families.
Background of Hof Castle
In 1725, the 62-year-old military commander Prince Eugene of Savoy obtained a four-wing stronghold from the 17th century and had it expanded into a superb palace complex. Around then, the impressive ensemble of castle, garden, and manor complex was created, which can still be experienced today.
When Prince Eugene passed away at seventy-three, his only living relative, his niece Anna Victoria of Savoy-Soissons, inherited everything and became one of the wealthiest women in Europe.
Two years after inheriting, she married Prince Joseph Friedrich of Saxony-Hildburghausen, who was eighteen years younger. She gave him Hof Castle and Niederweiden Castle. Even after they separated, he kept ownership and used them for fancy events.
To create a fitting home for Prince Eugene’s plant collection, Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt built two greenhouses with gardens in front. These were constructed using the latest glasshouse design, with the south side made entirely of wood and glass.
The heating system, still operational today, warms the air in underground compartments using large furnaces and channels it into the space through a system of square openings.
In 1755, Maria Theresa took control of the country estate. From 1773 to 1775, significant changes were made to the castle, including adding a floor and renovating the rooms on the first floor.
After Maria Theresa passed away in 1780, her descendants lost interest in their summer residence at Marchfeld, leaving it to nature.
In 1898, Emperor Franz Joseph decided to hand over the property to the army administration to establish a facility for riding and driving instruction.
After the Habsburg Monarchy ended, the State took control of the property. Hof Castle remained under military administration, with changes only in the soldiers’ uniforms.
Major restoration work took place in Hof Castle in 1986.
Extensive renovations and reconstruction of the buildings began in 2002.
After fifteen years of careful reconstruction, the garden is ready for our guests to enjoy just as it looked in the eighteenth century.
Along with the historically accurate paths and sunken lawns, there’s also a labyrinth and maze with a viewing platform.
Please check out my other writings related to travel.
Hello, I’m Jozsef. I’m writing about spirituality, traveling, and generative AI. To see my stories pop up on your feed, I’d love for you to follow me. (Jozsef Kovacs) And, to have stories sent directly to you, subscribe to my newsletter.👇
