Located in the heart of one of Vienna’s oldest and most beautiful areas, the first district, you will find the famous Palais Ferstel. The young architect Heinrich von Ferstel created this Palais between 1856 and 1860 while he was captivated by the impressions of a long visit to Italy. The unique combination of  Venetian-Florentine Trecento architecture with classic ashlar masonry has rendered this building one of Vienna’s grandest and most interesting examples of Wilhelminian-style architecture.

At the time of its opening in 1860, the Palais Ferstel was the newest design in Vienna. The stylish rooms and the glass-covered yard not only briefly housed the Vienna Stock Exchange and the Austro-Hungarian National Bank but also provided a suitable ambience for the famous Cafe Central which became the hub of Europe’s intellectual elite towards the end  of the 19th Century.

Today the Palais Ferstel still captures one’s imagination with its perfect combination of various architectural styles and represents a refreshing symbiosis of impressive architecture in a classical surrounding with state-of-the-art facilities. Its sympathetic restoration, which remained true to the original down to the very last detail, has returned the building to its former splendour. At the same time, all the requirements of contemporary living have been fully taken into consideration.

Enclosed you will find the detailed, tabular history of the Palais:

Architectural style:	late romantic historism
1856-1860	The young architect Heinrich von Ferstel constructs the grand Palais Ferstel inspired by a long journey through Italy.
1860	Opening of the Palais Ferstel, the building is known as the „most up-to-date building of Vienna“
1860	The Vienna stock exchange rents the ground floor of the Palais Ferstel, up until the opening of the official Wiener Börsensäle, also the Austrian-Hungarian national bank have their headquarters in the building of the Palais Ferstel (on the ground floor – later Cafe Central – Warenbörse).
1876	The Pach brothers open the Cafe Central in the ground floor after the move of the stock exchange (1877 move of the stock exchange to the stock exchange building am Ring)
1877	The k.u.k. Military casino moves to the old stock exchange floor in the first floor and stays there until 1911
From 1900	The Cafe Central becomes the meeting point of academics and artists, the „Centralisten“as the regulars like to call themselves. Sigmund Freud, Arthur Schnitzler, Leo Trotzki, Robert Musil or Hugo von Hofmannsthal as well as others mix here. Regular Peter Altenberg is so close to the Cafe Central, he indicates theirs as his address. He uses the Cafe Central as his workplace, living room, salon and workstation. Until today a live size figure near the entrance remembers the famous regular.
Until 1918	The Cafe Central remains the only literature cafe in Vienna.
1925	the Cafe Central is renovated and restored just before its 50th anniversary. Arkadenhof, Säulensaal, a Damensalon and several game rooms are integrated in the cafe and the cafe is redesigned to a cafe-restaurant.
1926	The recently renovated cafe celebrates its 50th anniversary.
1938	Due to an arianization initiated by the national socialists the Cafe Central has to change its name to „Kaffeehaus“ (coffee house) or „Kaffee“ (cafe). Many regulars loose their lives due to the nationalism and the Second World War.
1943	The Cafe Central is closed and remains closed for four decades. The war causes a lot of damage to the Palais Ferstel; the rooms of the Cafe Central are amongst others used as a stock room.
1951	After the Red Army and the war leaving meter high debris, broken windows and a near completely destroyed interior decoration, the Vienna basketball community works on a makeshift renovation of the Palais for months. The „Halle Herrengasse“ is used for playing basketball later.
1958	The Österreichische Realitäten-AG (ÖRAG) (Austrian Realities Corporation) takes over the building
1970	A team of experts is ordered to design ideas for a restoration and future reanimation of the Palais Ferstel.
1978	Beginning of the renovations
1982	The Café Central re-opens in the Arkadenhof. The café was rebuild in the studios of the ORF for a discussion program which was regularly broadcasted until 1991.
1986	The Cafe Central moves back to its origin in the Säulensaal. The ballrooms of the Palais Ferstel are run by the Imperial Austria Hotels AG under CIGA Hotels -and later under Sheraton or Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. as a „Veranstaltungszentrum“ (event centre) until the letting agreement ends in 2001. The excellent in-house cuisine as well as service attend all events exclusively.
2000	By purchasing the ÖRAG the private trust takes over the buildings of the Palais Ferstel as well.
May 3rd, 2001	Foundation of the Palais Events Veranstaltungen GmbH through the private trust as operating company with the Wiener Börsensäle as its first member.
October 1st, 2001	Palais Events Veranstaltungen GmbH absorbs part of the Palais Ferstel and Cafe Central. The excellent in-house cuisine as well as service still attend all events exclusively.
2002	More modernising workings on the Cafe Central & Palais Ferstel (amongst others renewal of the air conditioning, renovation of the floors, building of a big transportation lift, modification and renovation of the toilets etc.)
2006	the Cafe Central runs -on availability (due to banquet events) the famous Arkadenhof as a coffee house and for group reservations

Votivkirche
Main University at Dr.-Karl-Lueger Ring
University for Applied Art in Vienna
Museum for Applied Arts

 |  |  | Media service | Newsletter | Imprint | Terms & Conditions | Contact | How to find us