History of the
Villa Liechtenstein

Historical Notes

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Prince Johannes von und zu Liechtenstein

Villa Liechtenstein and Villa Rosen (background left) around 1905

About Villa Liechtenstein

Surrounded by lakes and mountains in the Styrian “Salzkammergut”, Villa Liechtenstein has been a landmark building and a center of social life and interest in Altaussee in the last 130 years. The three buildings: the Villa Liechtenstein itself (for special events and based on individual arrangements), the Villa Rosen und the Garden Cottage on the first floor of the gardener’s house are great venues for business meetings, offsites and retreats, but also for a romantic week or two with a loved one, weddings, birthdays, or simply a calm and relaxing vacation with the family. Spend a unique time in Altaussee – learn what “Sommerfrische” means - we look forward to seeing you!

Princely Ambience

Villa Liechtenstein served as a summer residence for leading members of the Liechtenstein family as early as the 1890s. Altaussee is close to Bad Ischl, where the Austrian emperor Franz Josef I moved the Viennese court in the summer months for many years, which caused many members of the Austrian court to spend their summers there as well. At the time, many aristocrats, high officials of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy and neighbouring countries such as the Principality of Liechtenstein, artists and intellectuals spent their summer vacation in and around Bad Ischl, including Altaussee.

Attractive Holiday Region

Today you can spend "quality time" in this unique landscape in the northwestern corner of Styria, the “Ausseerland”, with its clear lakes and untouched mountains. From here you have access to many historical sights like the emperor’s villa in Bad Ischl or the world famous Benedictine monastery of Admont with its amazing library and modern art exhibition, pittoresque villages, beautiful secluded lakes, and many more.

History of Villa Liechtenstein

1888

On May 2, 1988, the property on which Villa Liechtenstein and its current outbuildings are located is separated from the property of the “Pucherjodl” – Johann Pucher – and sold to the Austro-Hungarian court supplier of wool, silk and luxury fabrics, Wilhelm Jungmann from Vienna. Only 5 months later the property changes hands again. Princess Hedwig Fürstin von und zu Liechtenstein becomes the new owner.

1888
1889

In the spring of 1889, the princess submits a building application for the construction of “Villa Liechtenstein” with two towers to the Altaussee municipal office. With the mayor's approval, a second building with a kitchen and bathroom, the current Villa Rosen, is included in the building permit. The villa is being built in the second half of 1889 by master bricklayer Gregor Resch from Altaussee.

1889
1890

In April 1890, the villa is inspected and approved and the owners are able to move in.

1890
1893

Die Villa Liechtenstein erhält eine Hausnummer – Puchen 64. 
The Villa Liechtenstein receives a house number – Puchen 64. In October 1893 the villa is on fire! Due to a cause that is never clarified a fire breaks out in the Villa Liechtenstein. Fanned by a strong easterly wind, the fire quickly spreads through the house, and when the fire brigade arrives, flames are already shooting out of the attic. After several hours, the fire brigade manages to put out the fire. The damage is enormous. Unfortunately, many pieces of antique furniture, art objects, paintings and valuable porcelain are destroyed.

1893
1894

The finished new guest house of the villa, Puchen 67 – today’s Villa Rosen – is commissioned and entered in the land register.

1894
1899

In January 1899, Princess Hedwig sells the villa and its outbuildings to Prince Johannes II von und zu Liechtenstein. Prince Johannes II, born in 1840, takes over the leadership of the House of Liechtenstein and the principality at the age of 18. He went on to rule for almost 70 years and is known as a patron of the arts and sciences, but also as a helper of the poor and needy. Over the course of his life, he donates around 70 million gold marks from his private assets to humanitarian causes. The prince dies in his Feldsberg castle in South Moravia on February 11, 1929, at the age of 89.

1899
1906

In December 1906, Robert Freiherr von Joelson, a retired major of the Austro-Hungarian army purchases the villa from Prince Johannes and lives in it with his wife and children.

1906
1924

After the death of Robert Joelson, the children each inherit half of the property.

1924
1942

After the death of Robert Joelson (all aristocratic titles in Austria were revoked on April 3, 1919), the children inherit the property. Shortly thereafter, the villa is sold to Ms Alma Jacob. The new owner brings new residents with her: Anton and Maria Magdalena Filkuka, who are to define the role and fame of the building for many years to come. Anton Filkuka had made a name for himself as a war painter during the First World War and after the end of the war becomes one of the most sought-after landscape painters in the Salzkammergut. Inspired by his friend, the composer Wilhelm Kienzl, he spends a large part of his time in Altaussee. In 1948, he shows more than 100 pictures from Altaussee and the surrounding “Ausseerland” area at an exhibition in Linz. He also becomes a well known portrait painter with paintings and drawings of Ignaz Seipel, Wilhelm Kienzl, Alma Mahler, the princely Liechtenstein family, Braj Kumar Nehru and many other notable individuals. But also his wife Maria Magdalena Filkuka was no stranger to the public: In addition to her work as an actress, she modeled for famed artists such as Egon Schiele and Gustav Klimt. After the end of World War II, Anton Filkuka receives commissions from the American occupying forces and he is even offered to emigrate to the USA. However, he declines out of his emotional attachment to his home country. He dies in 1957. Several of the painter's works are still displayed in Villa Liechtenstein. During his lifetime and after his death the vernacular continues to call the building “Filkuka Villa” or “Filkuka Schlössl”.

1942
1953

Fire again in the Villa Liechtenstein - a roof fire that is quickly extinguished. In the course of the renovation, the attic is expanded. In the same year, the gardener's house, in which our Garden Cottage Apartment is now located, is constructed.

1953
1956

Elisabeth Trösch acquires the Villa Liechtenstein.

1956
1972

In 1972, Ms. Trösch emigrates to England. The villa is put on the market again. New owners were found quickly – Ernst Paul Greiner and his wife Siegfriede.

1972
1976

Ernst Paul Greiner dies and his wife Siegfriede becomes the sole owner of Puchen 67. Mrs. Greiner lives alone in Villa Rosen for almost 40 years.

1976
1990

Artists are coming to Villa Liechtenstein again! The Viennese couple Sylvia and Yair Nesher purchase the villa. Nesher & Nesher are puppeteers produce many puppet shows for ORF and ZDF (Austrian and German TV channels). Among many other live events, they perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Magic Flute” at the Theater an der Wien. They sell the Villa Lichtenstein in 1997 to a local bank that has with intentions to develop the property. 

1990
1999

After several years of vacancy and dilapitation during the late 1990s, Villa Liechtenstein is purchased by the current owner. Over 24 months, the house is completely renovated, the wintergarden and the large terrasse are added, a garage is built under the house, the gardens are designed and planted, and the driveway and “piazza” in front of the house is created and paved with cobblestone. The intention of the new owner is to marry the original rather “romantic” appearance of the building with modern technology, especially energy efficiency. Since then, the new Villa Liechtenstein has become a landmark of Altaussee again.

1999
2015-2017

The owner purchases the Villa Rosen and the gardener’s house, and renovates and modernizes them rwith great sensitivity and attention to detail. Since then, both Villa Rosen and the Garden Cottage have been accessible for short- and sometimes long-term rentals and many individuals, families and groups have stayed there as long-term tenants or spent their summer, fall, winter or spring vacations in the Villa Rosen and the Garden Cottage. Both locations are great venues for relaxing and romantic days, weeks and months surrounded by the fantastic landscape, the lakes, the mountains and the hospitable people of Altaussee and the Salzkammergut. 

2015-2017
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