Wartholz Castle

The construction of Wartholz Castle took place between 1870 and 1872, based on designs by Heinrich Ferstel and executed by Heinrich Missong, in the Historicist style. The patron was Archduke Karl Ludwig, who had previously used the area for hunting. The castle-like building with its towers was primarily designed for recreational purposes. Due to Reichenau's popularity as an excursion destination for aristocratic society, facilitated by the construction of the Southern Railway, members of the imperial family, high nobility, artists, and scientists regularly gathered here. Emperor Karl I and Empress Zita also used the villa, and their son Otto von Habsburg was born here and received his baptism and first communion in the castle's chapel.