Thanks to the refurbishment and renovation measures started back in 2015 and an investment of over 14 million euros by Casinos Austria, Klessheim Palace now shines in new splendor and is a jewel for our guests and for tourism in Salzburg.

The refurbishment began in 2015 with the addition of two buildings with a total floor space of over 1,000 square meters at the rear of the palace. Primarily constructed as a fire safety measure, these buildings also contain two elevators, modern restrooms and the air conditioning system. Klessheim Palace thus now features barrier-free access and full air conditioning for the first time in its history.

The extension also houses the restaurant kitchen, staff common rooms and storage facilities.

The focus in 2017 lay on the renovation of the building’s exterior. Great emphasis was placed thereby on conserving or restoring its original appearance and thus preserving the historic building. An analysis of the existing layers of paint allowed the façade to be faithfully restored in its original 18th-century color. The stucco work was reconstructed in minute detail. The historic wooden windows were likewise faithfully restored. To protect the fabric of the building, the roof was also completely renovated. The historic roof structure was also renovated and restored to its original look.

By totally renovating and restoring Klessheim Palace, Casinos Austria has preserved the historic fabric of the building and increased its value for the long term.

>> With great devotion and commitment, we have succeeded in restoring this historic jewel in Salzburg to a level that matches its historic relevance. In the first years of the project, we focused on the interior and made sure that the rooms were state-of-the-art – both from a visual and a technical perspective. The beauty of the building in which we have the honor of working is now also evident from the outside. This makes me very proud. << Wolfgang Haubenwaller, Director, Casino Salzburg

Facts and figures on the renovation project

  • 200 people were involved in the project
  • More than 100 construction workers were on the site simultaneously on the busiest day of construction in October 2015
  • The main contractor employed a total of 25 different subcontractors
  • 2,597 square meters of carpet and 550 square meters of tiles were laid
  • 1,100 square meters of wallpaper were replaced
  • 5,000 kg of sheet metal were processed in 3,500 hours during the restoration of the roof
  • The restoration of the façade took 4,190 hours, 2 tons of blasting material and 1,000 kg of paint.

 

The History of Klessheim Palace

Archbishop Johann Ernst Thun acquired the small aristocratic residence at the end of the 17th century and commissioned Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach to construct an elegant summer residence. Fischer von Erlach drew inspiration in his design from motives found at the Palace of Versailles.

After the Archbishop’s death in 1709, the palace was left unfinished for many years. It was finally completed in 1732 by Archbishop Leopold Anton von Firmian, leaving out much of what had been included in the original plans.

The magnificent baroque palace on the outskirts of Salzburg is now owned by the State of Salzburg and has been home to Casino Salzburg since January 1993. It previously served as a guesthouse for the State of Salzburg and the Federal Republic of Austria, hosting countless well-known guests like Queen Elizabeth II or President Richard Nixon.

Guided Tours of Klessheim Palace on European Heritage Days

On European Heritage Days, which are held each year on the last Sunday in September, visitors can enjoy a guided tour of Klessheim Palace. The goal thereby is to raise public awareness of the relevance of cultural heritage. During the tour of Klessheim Palace, visitors can experience first hand the measures that have been taken to preserve this historic building. In 2018, European Heritage Day is on 30 September. The slogan for this year’s event is “Sharing our Treasures – European Cultural Heritage Day”.

More information on the European Heritage Days can be found (in German) on the following website: https://tagdesdenkmals.at/de/

 

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