Kaiservilla

Originally a Biedermeier villa, the property changed hands in 1850 to Dr. Eduard Mastalier. Following the engagement of Emperor Franz Joseph I to Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria in 1853, Archduchess Sophie, the Emperor's mother, acquired the villa as a wedding gift. In the subsequent years, the building underwent reconstruction and expansion in the Neoclassical style under the direction of Antonio Legrenzi. The central section was extended towards the park, transforming the original rear into a grand entrance with columns and a tympanum. Two new side wings gave the structure the shape of an “E,” interpreted as a tribute to Empress Elisabeth. The entire ensemble, including the English park and the Marmorschlössl, was not completed until 1860, as no construction work was permitted during the imperial summer stays.