Schloss Hof is a Baroque masterpiece characterised by three main areas: the magnificent palace, the splendid seven-terrace Baroque garden and the idyllic estate with its orangery and two stables. During the Garden Days, which took place from 30 May to 2 June 2019, I visited the largest castle complex in the countryside, covering around 70 hectares, whose magnificent Baroque gardens were completed after 15 years of detailed reconstruction. Schloss Hof is the largest of the six Marchfeld castles and is located east of Vienna in the village of Schloßhof in the market town of Engelhartstetten in the district of Gänserndorf in Lower Austria. It is a popular destination for excursions and looks back on a long history. The castle was built in the 1620s east of the former medieval fortress of Hof. In 1725, Prince Eugene of Savoy acquired the single-storey Renaissance castle with a rectangular floor plan and had it converted by Johann Lucas Hildebrandt into a prestigious country estate with an impressive garden with seven terraces and a farmstead to serve as an economic supply. More than 800 craftsmen worked on this mammoth task until Prince Eugene’s death in 1736. In 1755, Austria’s sovereign Maria Theresa acquired the palace and had it rebuilt by Franz Anton Hillebrandt between 1773 and 1775 to give it the appearance we know today. I entered the country estate under a bright blue sky and was immediately overwhelmed by its enormous dimensions. My journey of discovery through the monumental Schloss Hof began with a tour of its state rooms. I followed in the footsteps of Prince Eugene of Savoy and Maria Theresa and entered the opulent rooms on the first floor via the white marble staircase of Schloss Hof. I started my tour of discovery in the north wing with Prince Eugene’s former apartment, which was redesigned for Emperor Joseph II. I then visited the rooms in the east wing, which offer a view of the magnificent garden and are explicitly dedicated to the life and work of the art-loving commander Prince Eugene of Savoy. I was overwhelmed by the sight of the Baroque chapel and the classicist ballroom. Afterwards, I marvelled at Maria Theresa’s chambers in the south wing. The state rooms gave me an insight into the lifestyle of the 18th century. I was very impressed by the imperial palace. Afterwards, I explored the breathtaking Baroque garden with its magnificent fountains, sculptures and unique planting on seven terraces. Then I went to the idyllic estate with its adventurous and exciting tours in the form of adventure trails. My feet were terribly sore from all the walking, but I really wanted to experience the numerous themed gardens, such as the two orangery gardens, the dreamlike rose garden, the fragrant herb garden, the delicious snack garden, the colourful potpourri garden and the Weinviertel garden. I enjoyed the themed gardens and felt like I had arrived in a garden paradise. Of course, I didn’t miss the opportunity to visit the petting zoo and the animal world consisting of white Baroque donkeys, horses, Shetland ponies, camels, llamas, alpacas, sheep, four-horned goats, chickens, peacocks, turkeys and ground squirrels. The next stop was a visit to the show workshops, which were divided into basket weaving, pottery, schnapps distilleries and woodturning. I was thrilled by the playful way in which interesting facts about rural life in the Baroque period were conveyed on the estate. I loved the lively hustle and bustle on the estate and the loud laughter of the children who were romping around with their parents either on the adventure playground or in the children’s and family world with its water playground. To round off this fantastic day, I treated myself to a sparkling glass of Prosecco in the ‘Zum weißen Pfau’ restaurant, which is located in the idyllic estate. Before leaving Austria’s largest country estate, I browsed around the gift shop and the Meierhof shop ‘Kontor’. Here you can buy a wide selection of beautiful and useful items, from handmade porcelain and glass, exquisite design objects, books and toys to unusual garden utensils and culinary specialities. I was delighted with my visit to Schloss Hof and took many wonderful experiences with me that day.
