History
The life of Prince Eugene of Savoy has left a distinctive mark on this hotel, which is hardly surprising, since the hotel also finds itself in a particularly historic part of Vienna. In order to nurture this historical connection, the various rooms and spaces were named after relatives or stations in the life of Prince Eugene.
Prince Eugene was one of the House of Austria’s most famous field marshals and a driving force behind Austria’s role as a major European power. As a builder and art collector, he was one of the most prominent patrons of the arts of his time.
Eugene was the fifth son of Eugene Moritz of Savoy-Carignan, Count of Soissons, general and governor to Louis XIV, and Olympia Mancini.
The popularity of the prince was great even during his own lifetime, especially amongst soldiers and servants, with whom he is said to have been particularly sociable. He has been immortalised in numerous busts and in statues which portray him on horseback. The most famous of these is on Heldenplatz square in Vienna, a work created by sculptor Anton Dominik Fernkorn.
In 1804, Emperor Francis I decreed the establishment of the Imperial Court & State Print. It quickly garnered itself an outstanding reputation as a “University of Graphic Arts”. In 1918, after the collapse of the monarchy, the Court & State Print became the Austrian State Print.
The facade of the original building has been preserved, while the vestibule has undergone extensive restoration.
