A Medieval Austrian Castle Tied to Mozart Is Headed for Auction

Photo: Universal History Archive/Getty Images

An Austrian castle with ties to Mozart will soon be auctioned off, the New York Post reports. In 1791, the palatial abode, known as Schloss Stuppach, was home to Count Franz Anton Walsegg. The Count commissioned the composer to write his now-famous “Requiem in D minor” in honor of Walsegg’s late wife, who had died in the castle a year prior to the request. Mozart himself died before finishing the composition, leaving his student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, to pick up where he had left off. The completed manuscript was subsequently handed over to Walsegg in 1792, after which it remained inside Schloss Stuppach until 1830 when it was rehomed to the Austrian National Library. In 2001, the prized document was insured for $7.97 million—making it one of the world’s most valuable music manuscripts.

Located in a lushly landscaped park near the mountain town of Gloggnitz in lower Austria, the castle’s earliest mention dates to 1130, with added construction in the 15th and 17th centuries, per the listing details. As a result, the 50-room structure combines medieval, renaissance, and baroque styles. Previously on the market for $12.1 million, the property’s auction details give a presale estimate of $4.31 million to $10.85 million, with bidding taking place from December 1 through December 14.

Spanning nearly 27,000 square feet of interior living space and equipped with antique furnishings, the historic dwelling features four bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a movie theater, a library, a chapel, and even a dungeon. Elaborate millwork, ornate crystal chandeliers, wood-burning fireplaces, and parquet wood floors are found throughout the estate.

Previous owners marketed the space as “Mozart’s Last Castle” and turned areas of the building into independent businesses that are included in the sale, including a club salon, an experience theater, a concert program, and a retail space, according to the listing.

Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

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