Through Time, Through People, Through Vienna

The original building of The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna consists of four historic, now heritage-protected, nineteenth century palaces that have been linked together. The magnificent buildings were built between 1865 and 1871 in the prosperity of the Viennese “Ringstrassen architecture”. Schubertring 5, the place where the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton, Vienna is found today, was originally built as "Adels Casino" in 1866. Already in the 19th century the building had the character of a hotel, since noble bachelors had the possibility to stay there overnight. The "Adels Casino" was built by the famous architect Sir Johann Romano, who designed and built further twenty-two buildings around the Ringstrasse. Schubertring 7 was built by architect Anton Ölzelt as a residence for his family in 1865 and was therefore named "Palais Ölzelt".

Today, the meeting area as well as the Dstrikt Steakhouse and the D-bar are located in the historical building. The Palais at the Beethovenplatz 2 was built between 1868 and 1869 by the renowned architect Friedrich Schachner for the family Borkenstein. Lastly, Beethovenplatz 3 was originally built as "Palais Gutmann". Sir Wilhelm Gutmann founded the largest coal company of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy.

Once four separated palaces, it was then GiroCredit, who gradually connected the individual buildings between 1939 and 1970 and used them as bank and office buildings. In 1999, the entire building complex was sold to Erste Bank, which used it as an office building until 2005, before the BAI took over the buildings and transformed it into a hotel.

1848

Emperor Franz Joseph assumes the throne after the abdication of Emperor Ferdinand. At that time, Austria was the third largest state in Europe, but the multicultural state was a great challenge for Emperor Franz Joseph.

December 25, 1857

Emperor Franz Joseph decides for the construction of the “Ringstrasse” in order to replace the old city walls and to embellish his beautiful residential city. He quotes, that the construction of the Ring Boulevard is a "Beautification of his residence and the capital of his empire". It is the greatest urban event until then, with three distinctive goals:

Firstly, the emperor pursued political goals. His aim was to make Vienna a world capital in order to demonstrate the power and strength of the Habsburg empire in Europe.

Secondly, he aimed at logistic goals to connect Vienna with its suburbs and ease the trade between different cities.

Thirdly, he of course followed goals for social improvement. His aim was to change the previous rigid social structure, in order to level out the strong power of the imperial house in contrast to the low power and influence of the wider, poor mass. Through technical and economic developments in the field of technology, transport, craftsmanship and monetary affairs, the bourgeoisie soon emerged as a new self-conscious stand, which also received political power. The project “Ringstrasse” involved large parts of the bourgeoisie as for example brick suppliers or architects and helped them to gain power and social status. Thus, the “Ringstrasse” was also an important symbol of the economic upturn in the imperial capital of the former empire.

1860

The planning of the ring boulevard was completed. Eight hundred buildings should be erected on the four-kilometer-long route.

1860- 1914

The construction of the Ring Boulevard took place. Many of today’s most important points of interest such as the State Opera, the Town Hall, the Parliament, the university buildings, Vienna’s two biggest museums, the Fine Arts Museum and the Natural History Museum, the “Burgtheater” and numerous Palaces were constructed. The only famous museum not erected alongside the ring boulevard was the Secession building. In contrast to the other buildings, the Secession was not built in the style of Historicism, but in the style of Art Nouveau. As the emperor did not like this architecture, the building had to be built outside the Ring Boulevard.

May 1, 1865

Celebrated opening of the “Ringstrasse” by Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth.

After 1865

The “Schubertring”, the part of the Ring Boulevard on which the Ritz-Carlton, Vienna is situated today, was at that time the finest section for housing. On the one hand, due to its proximity to the city park, which lead to a very high quality of life, on the other hand, because of the proximity to the “Schwarzenbergplatz”, where Archduke Ludwig-Viktor resided, it became even more acceptable at court. During these times it was popular to stroll on the “Ringstrasse” between 11 am and 2 pm on Sundays and watch the Viennese social life play itself out. Even today it is widely popular to regenerate in one of the many Viennese parks or to take a Sunday walk along the Ring Boulevard to see and be seen.

As the architecture of the different buildings that comprise the hotel is clearly distinctive from each other, so is its surrounding. In front of the Hotel, bordered by the prestigious Ring Boulevard, on the left side enclosed by the “Fichtegasse”, adjacent to its back the famous “Beethovenplatz” and to its right the famous “Christinengasse”, the immediate surrounding of the hotel is as interesting as its architecture.

With the words "It is my will ...", the Emperor Franz Joseph ordered the demolition of the city walls around the historical Vienna in 1857. He wanted to expand the city of Vienna, increase its accessibility to the surrounding area and built a festive boulevard, the “Ringstrasse”. Today it is part of the historical city center of Vienna and UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

The “Fichtegasse” is named after the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte. In the past there were fortifications and the aqueduct bastion, which was used by the imperial gardens for irrigation.

The Beethovenplatz is a favored place for sunbaths or short rests in spring and summer. In the middle of the green square the Beethoven monument can be found. Beethoven made the capital of Austria his permanent and final residence and composed many masterpieces here. The Beethoven monument was unveiled in 1880 to his honors. On the left side, you can see Prometheus, friend and cultural founder of mankind in the Greek mythology. On the right hand side, you can find Viktoria, the winged victorious goddess who presents the composer laurels, which are a symbol of special success, honor and distinction. The nine children at the foot of the statue represent the nine symphonies of Beethoven.

The “Christinengasse” on the right hand side of the luxurious hotel, is named after a daughter of Maria Theresa. She was married to Albrecht von Sachsen-Teschen, the founder of the well-known Viennese art museum Albertina. The name Albertina is derived from a combination of the names of the couple Albert and Christina.

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna has a very special character and is built in the architectural style called historicism, which is embracing older styles such as the Renaissance or Romanticism, while already implementing the simultaneous development of the art nouveau. From the outside, you can see the historical building, which is combined with a contemporary, luxurious interior reflecting its surrounding. The influence of the Ring Boulevard on the design can easily be seen by the round, wooden elements such as the chandeliers in the Lobby reflecting the shape of the Ring Boulevard and the many trees lining the boulevard respectively. The horse paintings reflect the Viennese Horse Culture as the world-famous Spanish Riding School and the beloved horse carriages, named “Fiaker” by the Viennese.