Description of the attraction
Leesdorf Castle is located in the opposite part of the Austrian city of Baden from the historical center - in its eastern region, which became part of the city only in 1850. It is located just 500 meters from the central train station.
The first mention of Leesdorf Castle dates back to 1114. It was a powerful fortress surrounded by a pond. The castle changed many owners, among which it is worth noting the von Walseer family, originally from Swabia, a region of southwestern Germany and having a great influence in this part of Austria. For a long time, Leesdorf was the property of the large Austrian abbey of Melk. In 1683, the old medieval fortress was almost completely destroyed by Turkish troops.
Then it was decided to build a new castle on the foundations of a Romanesque building. In the course of the restoration work, previously separate structures were brought together: the main tower - bergfried, a chapel and a reception hall. All have been expertly finished inside and out in accordance with the Baroque architectural style. The castle of Leesdorf took this form already at the beginning of the 18th century.
Until 1852, this castle was still owned by Melk Abbey, but then it resold it to a major Viennese lawyer who converted the castle into a spa sanatorium, where in 1869 the imperial couple, Franz Joseph and Elizabeth, known as Sisi, even stayed. Then a new entrance to the palace was equipped - a powerful wrought iron gate was erected, to which a stone bridge led.
In 1885 the castle changed its owner again - now Johann Theodor Egger, a collector of decorative arts, settled here. It was he who discovered on the walls of the reception hall ancient frescoes of the 15th century depicting the ancient Greek god of time Chronos. At the same time, the main tower of the castle was built on one more floor.
From the beginning of the 20th century and until the Anschluss of Austria by Hitler, the palace belonged to the Franciscan sisters, who set up a hospital and an almshouse in the castle. After World War II, Leesdorf Castle returned to its former owners, but this time they founded a school of fine arts here, which is still functioning now, having turned into a large, serious college.
