Biron Palais

The Palais Biron (formerly Villa Merck or Villa Eden) is a spacious estate located on the height of the Dahliengarten. Today, the Palais serves as the office for the Chamber of Industry and Commerce Baden-Baden and can be rented for conferences.History

In search of a residence befitting their status, the patrician couple Ernst and Johanna Merck found what they were looking for at the Falkensteg estate. In 1858, the couple acquired the estate in the Falkenhalde district on the municipal border with Beuern. The Mercks had the old farmhouse and the associated freestanding pigsties demolished and commissioned the architect Auguste de Meuron to build a 2-story villa. In addition to the villa, an economy and servants' building and a porter's lodge were also built. In the following two years, a stable with a coach house, a greenhouse, and a chicken coop were added. In 1862, the estate was expanded through land purchases towards Lydtin- and Falkenstrasse.

The social aspirations of the builders Merck are evident in the choice of the building site on a small hill directly on the Oos and the large park belonging to the estate. In the summer months, up to three branches of the family lived in the villa. They belonged to the bathing society and frequented the Kurhaus and its surroundings.

Many construction works were carried out in the 1860s. In 1865, the outbuilding was expanded, and the previously erected stables were replaced by a new stable and coach house building with a coachman's apartment. In 1867, the Hamburg garden architect Jürgens redesigned the park. In the course of these works, the Falkenbach stream was relocated, and a small lake was created.

In 1874, the Austrian Empress Sissi visited Baden-Baden with her daughter and was a day guest at the villa.

In 1874 and 1875, further coach houses and horse stables, cold and warm greenhouses, and a hayloft were built. In 1880, a cowshed was added. At this time, the estate comprised 19 buildings.

After the death of Ernst Baron von Merck, his widow and her brother-in-law Johann von Merck inhabited the villa. In the summer months from 1889 to 1891, Princess Elisabeth von Baden also resided in Villa Merck and hosted concerts there. Four years later, Baroness von Merck must have accumulated so much debt that the villa was foreclosed. For 275,000 Marks, it passed into the possession of her brother-in-law Baron Karl Heinrich von Merck from Hamburg. He was presumably the Baroness's main creditor.

The new owner rented the building to Werner von Siemens, the nephew of the famous entrepreneur and son of Karl von Siemens. Together with his wife, he lived in Villa Merck from 1895 to 1898.

In 1912, Merck sold the estate to the manufacturer Gustav Adolf Redwitz. He had the buildings renovated by architects Scherzinger and Härke. The outbuilding and porter's lodge received their current appearance with Art Nouveau features during these renovations. A pergola was built in the park. Villa Merck became Villa Eden. In 1913, the magnificent main entrance and the enclosure were created. Shortly thereafter, Redwitz died in a car accident. His four sisters inherited the estate in 1914.

In 1920, the Redwitz community of heirs sold the estate to Princess Francoise and her husband Prince Gustav Calix Biron von Curland, who established their retirement residence in Baden-Baden in 1923.

In 1941, the city bought the estate. During the Second World War, it served as a reserve hospital and was subsequently confiscated by the Allied troops. In 1955, it was returned to the city administration. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce established its office in the Palais and eventually acquired it. Today, it serves as the IHK's office and can be rented for conferences.