Palais Niederösterreich – A Place of Political Change
It’s hard to walk through Vienna’s city center without passing a building with an interesting story. One of those places is Palais Niederösterreich, located on Herrengasse, just a few steps from Café Central. Built in the 16th century, it dates back to a time when Vienna was the administrative center of Lower Austria and the place where its representatives would gather.
The final separation between Vienna and Lower Austria only happened in 1921. By then, the two became independent states, and St. Pölten was named the capital of Lower Austria in 1986.
Palais Niederösterreich and the 1848 Revolution
The Palais has seen many important events over the centuries. One of them was the Viennese Revolution of 1848. It was part of a wave of European uprisings that started in France. In Vienna, the revolution began in March, when a crowd of students gathered at the Old University. They made their way to Palais Niederösterreich to present their demands.
It was here that Karl Heinrich Spitzer, one of the first victims of the revolution, was killed. As a result of the escalating chaos, Emperor Ferdinand was forced to step down in favor of Franz Joseph. The powerful Chancellor Metternich had to flee from the city.
The Birth of the First Austrian Republic
Another major historical event took place here in October 1918—the birth of the First Austrian Republic. This was the moment Austria officially became a republic, marking the end of the Habsburg Monarchy.
If you want to learn more about Palais Niederösterreich and its role in Austrian history, you can visit its exhibitions or explore it during Tag des Denkmals, an event that promotes cultural heritage and monument preservation across Austria.
If you are interested in more such stories, make sure to follow us on Instagram! And ofcourse, we keep many of the secrets for our private tour! If you want to dive deeper into Vienna’s history, join our guides and discover the city’ secrets.
