Villa Solitude

Villa Solitude is a small boutique hotel housed in a heritage-listed 19th-century villa in the centre of Bad Gastein, in the Austrian state of Salzburg. The building sits above the Gasteiner Ache, northwest of the famous Bad Gastein waterfall, and is operated as a hotel with only nine rooms and suites. Its late Biedermeier facade and carefully restored interiors — carved old wood panelling, partly original pine (Zirbenholz) floors, and a collection of antique furniture, pictures and decorations — preserve the atmosphere of the Austro-Hungarian imperial era. The hotel markets itself as the "Kaiser-Villa Solitude", recalling its history as a holiday villa for imperial highnesses and European nobility. The villa was built in 1838 by Johann Freiherr von Mesnil on the site of a former trout pond, and it was here that "refined gastronomy" was first established in Gastein. Later owners included Count Lehndorff, adjutant general to Kaiser Wilhelm I, and his wife, who allowed Protestant services to be held in the villa until the Christophoruskirche in Bad Gastein was completed in 1872; charitable theatre performances were also staged there. Famous guests included King Friedrich August II of Saxony in 1841 and King Leopold I of Belgium, who stayed in 1861 under the name Vicomte d'Ardennes. In 1906 the Linz railway restaurateur Viktor Sedlacek acquired the villa and its 1.5-hectare plot and had the Grand Hotel de l'Europe built next door. Today Villa Solitude operates as a boutique hotel with a restaurant, Lutter & Wegner, serving classics of Austrian cuisine, a wine shop, a sun terrace with views of the waterfall, and facilities for weddings in the Gastein mountains. Its nine rooms and suites are named after imperial themes, such as the Kaiserzimmer, Kaiserzeit suites and the Kaiserliche Sissy Suite. The hotel positions itself on charm, history and tranquillity rather than scale, offering what it describes as a romantic holiday on historic paths in the heart of Bad Gastein.

The Villa Solitude in the spa town of Bad Gastein, in the Austrian state of Salzburg, was built in the 19th century and is a protected monument. It stands above the Gasteiner Ache, northwest of the Gasteiner waterfall in the town centre, and is operated as a hotel. The two-storey building has a late Biedermeier facade. In 1838 Johann Freiherr von Mesnil acquired the Krenitzberg from Peter Straubinger, owner of the Hotel Straubinger, and built the Villa Solitude on the site of a former trout pond. It was there that "refined gastronomy" was first established in Gastein. Later, Count Lehndorff, adjutant general to Kaiser Wilhelm I — who took the cure in Bad Gastein twenty times — bought the noble building. Countess Lehndorff allowed Protestant services to be held in her Villa Solitude until the Christophoruskirche in Bad Gastein was completed in 1872. Theatre performances for charitable purposes were also held there. Countess Lehndorff bequeathed the building to the wife of the Prussian Major Count Hahn. In 1905 the Bad Gastein railway station on the Tauernbahn opened, which suddenly enhanced the value of this side of Bad Gastein. In February 1906 the Linz railway restaurateur Viktor Sedlacek acquired the Villa Solitude together with the 1.5-hectare building plot and had master builder Angelo Comini erect the Grand Hotel de l'Europe on it, which has since been the southern neighbouring building of the Villa Solitude. The Comini firm also built a small annex to the Villa Solitude. Among the famous guests, King Friedrich August II of Saxony stayed at the villa in the summer of 1841. King Leopold I of Belgium lodged at the Solitude in 1861 as the Vicomte d'Ardennes. On theatre evenings, members of court society were not only spectators at the Villa Solitude but also performed as actors for charitable purposes. Today the villa is run as a small boutique hotel with nine rooms and suites, marketed as the "Kaiser-Villa Solitude". It has been carefully restored in keeping with monument protection rules, retaining carved old wood panelling, partly original pine floors and a collection of antique furniture, pictures and decorations. The hotel includes the restaurant Lutter & Wegner, serving classics of Austrian cuisine, a wine shop, and a sun terrace with a view of the Bad Gastein waterfall. It also hosts weddings in the Gastein mountains.

• 1906

  Viktor Sedlacek acquires the villa and its 1.5-hectare plot; the Grand Hotel de l'Europe is built next door by Angelo Comini.

• 1905

  Bad Gastein railway station on the Tauernbahn opens, enhancing the value of this side of town.

• 1872

  Protestant services held in the villa cease when the Christophoruskirche in Bad Gastein is completed.

• 1861

  King Leopold I of Belgium stays at the Solitude under the name Vicomte d'Ardennes.

• 1841

  King Friedrich August II of Saxony stays at the villa in summer.

• 1838

  Johann Freiherr von Mesnil acquires the Krenitzberg and builds the Villa Solitude on the site of a former trout pond; refined gastronomy is established in Gastein.

A small, heritage-listed boutique hotel in the imperial style, offering charm, history and tranquillity in the heart of Bad Gastein.

• Kaiserliche Sissy Suite

  A suite named after Empress Elisabeth (Sissy).

• Kaiserzimmer

  Imperial-themed double room.

• Kaiserzeit Suiten

  Suites in imperial style.

• Restaurant Lutter & Wegner

  Hotel restaurant serving classics of Austrian cuisine, with an attached wine shop.

• Sun terrace

  Terrace with a dream view of the Bad Gastein waterfall.

1. 1Villa Solitude – Charmantes Boutique Hotel in Bad Gasteinvillasolitude.com
2. 2Villa Solitude (Bad Gastein) – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
3. 3Villa Solitude – Wikidatawikidata.org