24 May 2020

Tip for exploring history at a traveler's Palace of Dreams in Vienna: 'Pay as you wish' for entering Empress Sisi's legendary castle Hermesvilla at Lainzer Tiergarten from 29 May to 1 June

Wien Museum offers the 'Pay as you wish' entry to Hermesvilla from 29 May to 1 June; means that visitors can decide how much they will pay for a ticket.

Hermesvilla is located at the Lainzer Tiergarten, a former imperial hunting area outside of the city; today, it belongs to the 13th district of Vienna. It was built between 1882 and 1886 for one of the 19th century superstars Empress 'Sisi' (Elisabeth) and named after Greek god 'Hermes' (a statue is on view at the image showing the building's south-side). Hermes is known as protector of travelers. The name references Sisi's love to travel and it's said that Emperor Franz Joseph once built Hermesvilla for his wife to keep her in the country. The pair's life at the castle is theme of the permanent exhibition at Sisi's 'Palace of Dreams' which belongs today to the group of museums organised by Wien Museum.

Recently, the 'Wien Museum / Magazin' published an article by Michaela Lindinger about the history of Hermesvilla beginning with WWI, over the 1960s when the Disney movie 'Miracle of the White Stallions' was shot at the castle and how it became a branch of Wien Museum. It's announced that the author's book "Kaiserin Elisabeths Hermesvilla. Refugium einer rastlosen Seele" (published by Residenz Verlag) will be available from 28 May at the Wien Museum online shop and at Hermesvilla.

Image: South-side of castle Hermesvilla at Lainzer Tiergarten in Vienna. In the middle, the statue of Hermes. Photo: Lisa Rastl © Wien Museum.