Style & History
You will find the famous Palais Ferstel located in the oldest and most beautiful part of Vienna- the first district and heart of the city. The young architect Heinrich von Ferstel created this Palais between 1856 and 1860 whilst he was still captivated by the lasting 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, Palais Ferstel was one of the most modernly designed buildings in Vienna. The stylish ballrooms and the glass-covered courtyard not only briefly housed the Vienna Stock Exchange and the Austro-Hungarian National Bank but also provided a suitable ambience for the famous Café Central which became the hub of Europe’s intellectual elite towards the end of the 19th Century.
Today, Palais Ferstel still captures one’s imagination with its perfect combination of architectural styles and represents a refreshing symbiosis of impressive architecture in a classical surrounding with state-of-the-art facilities. Its careful restoration, which remained true to original plans right 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:
Tabular History
| 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 Palais Ferstel, the building is known as Vienna's „most up-to-date building“ |
| 1860 | The Vienna Stock Exchange rents the ground floor of Palais Ferstel, up until the opening of the official Wiener Börsensäle. The Austro-Hungarian National Bank also has its headquarters in this building (on the ground floor – later to become Café Central – Warenbörse). |
| 1876 | The Pach brothers open Café Central on the ground floor after the Stock Exchange moves out. (1877 the Stock Exchange (Börse) moves to the Stock Exchange building on Ring) |
| 1877 | The k.u.k. Military Mess moves to the old stock exchange floor on the first floor and stays there until 1911 |
| From 1900 | Café 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 meet here. The author and regular guest Peter Altenberg lives so close to Café Central, that he indicates its as his address. He uses Café Central as his workplace, living room and salon. Even today a life size statue near the entrance reminds us of this famous guest. |
| Until 1918 | Café Central remains the only literature cafe in Vienna. |
| 1925 | Café Central is renovated just before its 50th anniversary and is redesigned into a Cafe-Restaurant integrating the Arkadenhof, Säulensaal, a ladies salon (Damensalon) and several game rooms. |
| 1926 | The recently renovated cafe celebrates its 50th anniversary. |
| 1938 | Due to the arianization initiated by the national socialists, Café Central has to change its name to „Kaffeehaus“(coffee house) or „Kaffee“ (café). Many regular guests lose their lives due to the National Socialism movement and the Second World War. |
| 1943 | Café Central is closed and remains closed for four decades. The war causes a lot of damage to Palais Ferstel; Café Central amongst other things is used as stock rooms. |
| 1951 | After the Red Army departs and the war leaves meter high debris, broken windows and an almost completely destroyed interior, the Vienna basketball community works for months on a makeshift renovation of the Palais. The „Halle Herrengasse“ is later used to play basketball in. |
| 1958 | The Österreichische Realitäten-AG (ÖRAG) (Austrian Realities Corporation) takes over the building |
| 1970 | A team of experts is commissioned to develop ideas for restoration and future revitalisation of Palais Ferstel. |
| 1978 | Start of renovations |
| 1982 | Café Central re-opens in the Arkadenhof. The Café was rebuilt in the ORF studios (Austrian State Television and Radio) for a discussion programme which was regularly broadcasted until 1991. |
| 1986 | Café Central moves back to its original home in the Säulensaal. The Palais Ferstel ballrooms 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 rental agreement ends in 2001. |
| 2000 | By purchasing ÖRAG, Karl Wlaschek’s Private Trust also takes over the Palais Ferstel building. |
| 2001 | In May, foundation of the Palais Events Veranstaltungen GmbH by the Private Trust as operating company, with the Wiener Börsensäle as its first member. |
| 2001 | In October, Palais Events Veranstaltungen GmbH absorbs part of Palais Ferstel and Café Central. |
| 2010 | 150th anniversary of the Palais Ferstel |
| 2011 | Inclusion and now member of Verkehrsbüro Group. The excellent in-house cuisine and service still exclusively attend all events. |
More famous buildings by Heinrich von Ferstel:
Votivkirche, Vienna
Main University at Dr.-Karl-Lueger Ring, Vienna
University of Applied Art, Vienna
Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna
Palazzo del Lloyd Austriaco (Lloydpalast), Trieste
Participation of Trade Shows 2012
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Combi ticket river cruise & Viennese coffee break
Now available: combi package "Danube ship cruise & Viennese coffee break" at Café Central!
