Marienhof Manor

Marienhof is an estate located in the municipality of Spillern, 30 kilometers west of Vienna, not far from Kreuzenstein Castle.

The property was originally called "Josephinenhof" and was owned by Baron von Rothschild. A two-story castle-like building was erected in 1856, and an "English garden" was laid out around it. In 1861, "Josephinenhof" was acquired by purchase by the Viennese engineer Franz Kreuter, who resold it in 1886 to the Imperial and Royal Hussar First Lieutenant Alexander Prince zu Solms-Brennerfels. In the same year, ownership passed to Maria and Georg Schröder, who initiated the renaming to "Marienhof" on February 22, 1887. In 1895, "Marienhof" was acquired by Cavalry Captain Arthur Traenkel and his wife Theresia, which is why the hill above the main building is still called "Traenklersitz" today. In 1906, Theodor Prince Ypsilanti bought Marienhof and developed it into a well-known stud farm. A trotting track 800 meters long was even set up for training purposes. In this condition, Paula Hilgenreiner, née Suida, married to Imperial and Royal Cavalry Captain Eduard Staerz, took over "Marienhof" in 1922. At the end of World War II, the main building was occupied by Soviet military and largely ruined. In 1954, the manufacturer Gustav Harmer acquired the property and renovated the main building. Today, a stud farm is once again located on the premises.