Palais Clam-Gallas (Vienna)


The Palais Clam-Gallas is a palace in Neo-classical or Biedermeier style in Vienna, Austria. It was built in 1834 or 1835 by Prince as a summer residence. It is now the home of the Institut français de Vienne.

History

The Palais Clam-Gallas was built as a summer residence in 1834 or 1835 by Prince Franz Joseph von Dietrichstein in a park, laid out as an English garden, which had belonged to his family since 1690. The architect was Heinrich Koch. The building is in Neo-classical style typical of the Biedermeier period. In 1850 the palace passed by marriage into the family.
It was used by American troops following the Second World War. In 1952 the Clam-Gallas family sold it to the Republic of France. In 1954 the Lycée Français de Vienne was built on a part of the grounds. From 1980 until 2016 it was the home of the Institut français de Vienne, the French institute of Vienna. During this time the park was used for many public events including the annual Fête de la Musique on 21 June every year.
In 2016 the palace was sold to the Qatari government for €30m. Although there were promises made by the Qatari ambassador to renovate the building, it has remained empty and unused since the sale.