Schloss Schönborn

About

Schloss Schönborn is a Baroque-style palace located in Göllersdorf, Lower Austria. Originally constructed in the early 18th century by Friedrich Carl von Schönborn, imperial vice-chancellor and a prominent figure of the Austrian nobility, the castle replaced the medieval Mühlburg castle, incorporating elements of its original structure. Designed by the renowned architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt, Schloss Schönborn reflects the grandeur and sophistication of aristocratic residences of its time, with its three-wing layout, meticulously crafted interiors, and extensive gardens. Over the centuries, the palace has served as a noble residence, a hunting retreat, and even a filming location. Despite suffering significant damage and looting during the Russian occupation after the Second World War, the estate has since been restored and partially repurposed. Today, the palace hosts a golf club and restaurant, while remaining under the ownership of the Schönborn family, preserving its legacy as a symbol of Austrian noble heritage and architectural splendor.

Melchior Friedrich, Count of Schönborn (1644 – 1717) was a privy councilor of the Electorate of Mainz and Vizedomus of Aschaffenburg, where he commissioned the construction of the Schönborner Hof palace.in 1710, through the mediation of his son Friedrich Carl von Schönborn, who was then serving as Imperial Vice-Chancellor in Vienna, he acquired the estates of Göllersdorf, Mühlberg, and Aspersdorf [ de ] in Lower Austria from the last Count of Puchheim, Franz Anton von Bucheim, the then Bishop of Wiener Neustadt. The purchase meant entry into the Austrian nobility. The seller then called himself Puchheim-Schönborn, and the buyer's family called themselves Schönborn-Puchheim, later Schönborn-Buchheim. Melchior Friedrich was also awarded the Austrian title of Count.

The Göllersdorf estate primarily served as a summer residence for Melchior's son, the imperial vice-chancellor Friedrich Carl, who in 1715 also acquired the nearby Weyerburg estate in Lower Austria, about 10 km east of Hollabrunn, from the estate of Baron Dominikus von Hochburg.

The existing castle in Göllersdorf, in Weinviertel, was cleared after the construction of the new Schönborn Castle and later sold; today the Republic of Austria operates the Göllersdorf correctional facility on the castle grounds. From 1711 to 1718, shortly after the purchase, Friedrich Carl commissioned the architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to convert the Mühlberg castle, which was located on the property, into a representative country house. Hildebrandt was supported by the architect Maximilian von Welsch, who primarily focused on the water works.

Friedrich Carl lived in Vienna, where from 1717 to 1719, he had the Secret Court Chancellery (now the Federal Chancellery of Austria) constructed as his official residence. From 1723 to 1730, he also oversaw the reconstruction of the Imperial Chancellery Wing of the Wiener Hofburg, where he primarily resided. Additionally, he privately renovated the Blauer Hof in Laxenburg and built the Schönborn Palace in the Laudongasse in Vienna in 1706. In 1740, he remodeled the Palais Schönborn-Batthyány on Vienna's Renngasse. In 1729, he was elected Prince-Bishop of Bamberg, and in 1734, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg. Only years later did he leave Vienna to move to his principalities, where he completed the Würzburg Residence and had Werneck palace built between 1733 and 1745.

Architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt designed a three-wing complex with an extensive garden, orangery and castle chapel. In 1715, a pavilion of the orangery was decorated with frescoes by Jonas Drentwett. Salomon Kleiner created a series of drawings documenting the layout of the estate. Between 1729 and 1733, Hildebrandt built a St. John Nepomuk Chapel on the northwest edge of the extensive palace park.

The Prince-Bishop's heir as owner of the Austrian Buchheim majorat was his nephew, Eugen Erwein von Schönborn-Heusenstamm (1727–1801), who lived in Vienna and neglected the palace. Since he had no son, the Austrian majorat and the Franconian County of Heussenstamm passed to a cousin's son, Hugo (1739–1817). Hugo divided his time between the Schönborner Hof in Mainz, the Franconian palaces of Wiesentheid and Weißenstein in Pommersfelden, and Vienna. Therefore, he also rarely used the palace. It was only when his sons divided the properties that the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family emerged under Franz Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim (1768–1841) and assumed ownership of the palace. The estate has remained in the hands of the family to this day.

The palace was inhabited by the family until the First World War. During the interwar period, it became the venue for renowned car races. The living and reception rooms were impeccably furnished.

Second World War, Russian Occupation, and Modern Times

At the end of Second World War in 1945, the family relocated most of the castle's furnishings to the west and took refuge in Sankt Gallenkirch in Montafon. Only the elderly Countess Elise stayed behind, dying in early July. The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna moved many valuable items to the upper floors of the palace. During the final weeks of the war, with the front line only a few kilometers away, many rooms were used as a hospital for the German Wehrmacht. Eighteen German and two Russian soldiers were buried in the pheasant garden. Units of the SS and the Red Army looted the palace.

In the years following the Second World War, Schloss Schönborn suffered the same fate as most noble estates in northern Lower Austria. It was devastated and looted again by Russian occupation soldiers. Virtually nothing remained of the once-rich library, archive, painting collection, and porcelain collection.

Lacking funds and prospects, the palace remained neglected even after the departure of the Russians. Its salvation came through a new purpose. In 1988, parts of the palace and its 104-hectare park were leased by a golf club. The excellently restored main building now houses the clubhouse and a restaurant. Restoration work on the extensive castle grounds is expected to continue for several more years.

Melchior Friedrich, Count of Schönborn (1644 – 1717) was a privy councilor of the Electorate of Mainz and Vizedomus of Aschaffenburg, where he commissioned the construction of the Schönborner Hof palace.in 1710, through the mediation of his son Friedrich Carl von Schönborn, who was then serving as Imperial Vice-Chancellor in Vienna, he acquired the estates of Göllersdorf, Mühlberg, and Aspersdorf [ de ] in Lower Austria from the last Count of Puchheim, Franz Anton von Bucheim, the then Bishop of Wiener Neustadt. The purchase meant entry into the Austrian nobility. The seller then called himself Puchheim-Schönborn, and the buyer's family called themselves Schönborn-Puchheim, later Schönborn-Buchheim. Melchior Friedrich was also awarded the Austrian title of Count.

The Göllersdorf estate primarily served as a summer residence for Melchior's son, the imperial vice-chancellor Friedrich Carl, who in 1715 also acquired the nearby Weyerburg estate in Lower Austria, about 10 km east of Hollabrunn, from the estate of Baron Dominikus von Hochburg.

The existing castle in Göllersdorf, in Weinviertel, was cleared after the construction of the new Schönborn Castle and later sold; today the Republic of Austria operates the Göllersdorf correctional facility on the castle grounds. From 1711 to 1718, shortly after the purchase, Friedrich Carl commissioned the architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt to convert the Mühlberg castle, which was located on the property, into a representative country house. Hildebrandt was supported by the architect Maximilian von Welsch, who primarily focused on the water works.

Friedrich Carl lived in Vienna, where from 1717 to 1719, he had the Secret Court Chancellery (now the Federal Chancellery of Austria) constructed as his official residence. From 1723 to 1730, he also oversaw the reconstruction of the Imperial Chancellery Wing of the Wiener Hofburg, where he primarily resided. Additionally, he privately renovated the Blauer Hof in Laxenburg and built the Schönborn Palace in the Laudongasse in Vienna in 1706. In 1740, he remodeled the Palais Schönborn-Batthyány on Vienna's Renngasse. In 1729, he was elected Prince-Bishop of Bamberg, and in 1734, Prince-Bishop of Würzburg. Only years later did he leave Vienna to move to his principalities, where he completed the Würzburg Residence and had Werneck palace built between 1733 and 1745.

Architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt designed a three-wing complex with an extensive garden, orangery and castle chapel. In 1715, a pavilion of the orangery was decorated with frescoes by Jonas Drentwett. Salomon Kleiner created a series of drawings documenting the layout of the estate. Between 1729 and 1733, Hildebrandt built a St. John Nepomuk Chapel on the northwest edge of the extensive palace park.

The Prince-Bishop's heir as owner of the Austrian Buchheim majorat was his nephew, Eugen Erwein von Schönborn-Heusenstamm (1727–1801), who lived in Vienna and neglected the palace. Since he had no son, the Austrian majorat and the Franconian County of Heussenstamm passed to a cousin's son, Hugo (1739–1817). Hugo divided his time between the Schönborner Hof in Mainz, the Franconian palaces of Wiesentheid and Weißenstein in Pommersfelden, and Vienna. Therefore, he also rarely used the palace. It was only when his sons divided the properties that the Austrian branch of the Schönborn family emerged under Franz Philipp von Schönborn-Buchheim (1768–1841) and assumed ownership of the palace. The estate has remained in the hands of the family to this day.

The palace was inhabited by the family until the First World War. During the interwar period, it became the venue for renowned car races. The living and reception rooms were impeccably furnished.

At the end of Second World War in 1945, the family relocated most of the castle's furnishings to the west and took refuge in Sankt Gallenkirch in Montafon. Only the elderly Countess Elise stayed behind, dying in early July. The Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna moved many valuable items to the upper floors of the palace. During the final weeks of the war, with the front line only a few kilometers away, many rooms were used as a hospital for the German Wehrmacht. Eighteen German and two Russian soldiers were buried in the pheasant garden. Units of the SS and the Red Army looted the palace.