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Augarten Palace
(Leeb Palace)
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The Palais Augarten
is a baroque palace in the Viennese district of Leopoldstadt. Despite
extensive damage from the Second World War, the palace has been maintained
almost in its original appearance, and many of the original furnishings can
still be found there.
The Palais Augarten is especially
well-known as the home and relearsal space of the world-famous Vienna Boys'
Choir, who also have their own school there.
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When, in 1712, Emperor Charles VI
hired the landscape gardener Jean Trehet to redesign the baroque park of the
Augarten in the French style, many palaces were built on the grounds. The
largest of these palaces had been built earlier, towards the end of the
seventeenth century, by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach for the councilor
Zacharias Leeb. In 1780 this palace came into the possession of Emperor
Joseph II. Until the beginning of the twentieth century it remained in the
possession of the Habsburg family. During this period, and especially in the
nineteenth century, many balls were held in the palace, and a salon was
opened. Among the guests at that time were Richard Wagner, Franz Liszt, and
Hans Makart.
The greatest ball in the Palais
Augarten took place on the occasion of the Viennese World's Fair of
1873; among the guests were Emperor Francis Joseph I and Czar Alexander
II of Russia. In 1897 the palace was significantly remodelled for the
family of Archduke Otto, the nephew of Emperor Francis Joseph.
From 1934 to 1936 the palace was
inhabited by the Austrian Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg. During the Second
World War, the estate was badly damaged, but after the war it was
completely restored. In 1948 it was given to the Vienna Boys' Choir. The
porcelain manufacture Augarten Porzellan is also located there. Today
the palace, along with the rest of the Augarten, is in the possession of
the state of Austria.
Text Source: Wikipedia
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