Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
BAD ISCHL
06132 / POP 13,900
This spa town's reputation snowballed after the Habsburg Princess Sophie took a treat-
ment here to cure her infertility in 1828. Within two years she had given birth to Emperor
Franz Josef I; two other sons followed and were nicknamed the Salzprinzen (Salt Princes).
Rather in the manner of a salmon returning to its place of birth, Franz Josef made an annu-
al pilgrimage to Bad Ischl, making it his summer home for the next 60 years and hauling
much of the European aristocracy in his wake. The fateful letter he signed declaring war
on Serbia and sparking off WWI bore a Bad Ischl postmark.
Today's Bad Ischl is a handsome town that makes a handy base for visiting the region's
five main lakes.
Sights & Activities
Kaiservilla
(
www.kaiservilla.com
; Jainzen 38; adult/child €13/7.50, grounds only €4.50/3.50; 9.30am-4.45pm daily, Wed only
Jan-Mar, closed Nov)
Franz Josef's summer residence, the Kaiservilla is an Italianate building
that was bought by his mother, Princess Sophie, as an engagement present for her son and
Princess Elisabeth of Bavaria. Elisabeth, who loathed the villa and her husband in equal
measure, spent little time here, but the emperor came to love it and it became his perman-
ent summer residence for more than 60 years. His mistress, Katharina Schratt, lived
nearby in a house chosen for her by the empress. Tours of the villa give interesting in-
sights into the life of the family here and the objects on display include a death mask of
Empress Elisabeth made after she was killed by a knife-wielding madman at the age of 60.
Franz Josef was a passionate hunter, and the stuffed corpse of the 2000th chamois he shot
is also on display.
PALACE
Stadtmuseum
(
www.stadtmuseum.at
; Esplanade 10; adult/child €5.10/2.50; 10am-5pm Thu-Sun, 2-7pm Wed Apr-Oct & Dec,
10am-5pm Fri-Sun Jan-Mar, closed Nov)
The City Museum showcases the history of Bad Ischl and
stages changing exhibitions inside the building where Franz Josef and Elisabeth were en-
gaged (the day after they met at a ball).
MUSEUM
