The famous spa town of Bad Ischl blends together history with a much-romanticized love story and an air of the Habsburg dynasty's former glory. The local healing waters have been luring people in from all over since as far as the 16th century, but the first baths for noble visitors only opened in 1823.
The baths were fabled to have healing properties that could cure female infertility. It is said that even the mother of Emperor Franz Joseph I, Sophie of Bavaria, experienced the positive effects of the healing waters. The Habsburg dynasty as well as the nobility of their court had a longstanding relationship with the town that spanned over 700 years. History was made within the Imperial Villa (Kaiservilla) for decades. It was also made famous by the unforgettable Sissi movie trilogy by Ernst Marischka, although strangely enough, it is only seen in the first movie and only once from the outside. It was just here, in the town of Bad Ischl and its surroundings, that a love was born that would become the topic of so many novels, romantic movies, and documentaries.
Villa as a gift
Archduchess Sophie purchased the villa in 1853 for her son Franz Joseph I as a wedding present. Through gradual refurbishment and the additional construction of two wings in the shape of the letter "E", it transformed into its current form. It was there on the day of his 23rd birthday that the emperor got engaged to Elisabeth of Bavaria, known as Sissi, who was one of the most beautiful women of the 19th century and who fascinates people to this day. We can marvel at the Tilgner fountain made of white marble in the villa's courtyard, which was built in 1884. By the way, Viktor Tilgner is also the author of Bratislava's historically first purely decorative public fountain – the Ganymede Fountain located in front of the Slovak National Theater. Our eyes are then drawn to the sculpture of a gamekeeper called "Der Lauscher" (The Eavesdropper), which is a gift presented to Empress Elisabeth by Queen Victoria. The author is the French animalist Henri Marie Alfred Jacquemart. The imperial villa is encircled by a well-maintained park dotted with exotic trees and plants, wherein the marble cottage that served as the Empress' favorite tea spot can be found.
Spirit of imperial celebrations
The town of Bad Ischl hasn't forgotten the imperial couple of Franz Joseph I and his enchanting wife Elisabeth. Every August, the city organizes various events in their memory, culminating on August 18, the anniversary of the penultimate Austrian emperor's birthday. A ceremonial mass is held in the St. Nicholas church, attended by guests from Austria and abroad as well as numerous onlookers from all over the world. Besides councilors and politicians, you'll find the Emperor's descendants among the honorable guests as well. The whole event is a true visual spectacle. There are various folk costumes, uniforms, and ornamental banners, as well as enthusiasts dressed to resemble the former imperial army hussars, complete with horses and cannons. And – quite unusually for Austria – the imperial anthem can be heard in the church on this day. Following the mass, the procession heads to the Kaiservilla where presently the Emperor's great-grandson accepts the delegation, just as the emperor did in the past. Once the formalities are over, there follows a revel, an incredible experience for adults and children alike... It's not the only day when you have the chance to walk the park and peek inside the Imperial Villa, which is inhabited by the descendants of the penultimate imperial couple to this day. Even during his lifetime, Emperor Franz Joseph I himself allowed the public a glimpse at what his private apartments looked like during his absence. The villa and the park are open to the public nearly all year long.
HOW DID THE ARISTOCRACY LIVE?
The spirit of the times of Franz Josef and the beautiful Sissi permeates the imperial summer residence. Visitors are in for an enticing exhibition that includes the original furnishings, which make you feel as if time came to a standstill. You will also learn interesting tidbits about the imperial family's life during the tour. Who knows, perhaps if you're lucky you might get a tour from the emperor's great-grandson or his great-great-grandsons because the villa remained their property even after 1918. Located within the residence are also a pleasant gift shop and a little café serving delectable coffee and desserts. A magnet in its own right is the exhibition in the marble cottage as well as the walks in the well-kept park. Discover a piece of history in a unique place, get enveloped in romance, and let yourself dream. While sipping on a coffee and munching on a dessert, you'll experience the spirit of old, bygone times. Useful information can be found at www.kaiservilla.at .
The lifestyle of the aristocracy has its admirers even to this day
You'll feel as if the emperor is just about to get back to his work when visiting his study
Bad Ischl comes alive during the annual August celebration of the emperor's birthday
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