Halbturn Castle was built in 1711 by Lucas von Hildebrandt, one of the most important exponents of late Baroque architecture, during the reign of Emperor Charles VI. The emperor primarily used the palace as a hunting lodge and summer residence. Easily accessible from Vienna, Halbturn was one of the emperor’s favorite retreats. The design and layout of the park were carried out under his direction between 1724 and 1727.

The emperor fell ill during one of his beloved hunting stays in Halbturn and was taken to his city palace “Favorita” in Vienna (today’s Theresianum), where he passed away a week later, on October 20, 1740.

Maria Theresa, the daughter of Emperor Charles VI, became the first and only woman to assume rule over the vast Habsburg Empire. She commissioned her architect, Anton Hillebrand, to carry out extensive renovations to the palace.

Empress Maria Theresa inherited the estate and the palace after the death of her beloved husband, Emperor Francis I Stephen of Lorraine, and in the same year presented it to her favorite daughter, Archduchess Maria Christina. The “Christinenallee” in the palace park is named after her.

The famous ceiling fresco by Franz Anton Maulbertsch was commissioned by Empress Maria Theresa as a wedding gift for her daughter, Archduchess Maria Christina, and her groom, Duke Albert Casimir of Saxony-Teschen.

Archduke Carl, the adopted son of Duke Albert Casimir, married to the Protestant Princess Henriette of Nassau-Weilburg, defeated the previously unbeaten Napoleon at the “Battle of Aspern” in 1809. In doing so, he shattered the myth of Napoleon’s invincibility and became a celebrated hero. His monument stands in Vienna’s Heldenplatz.

Field Marshal Archduke Albrecht, the son of Archduke Charles and Archduchess Henriette, married Princess Hildegard of Bavaria. The marriage produced two daughters and a son, Karl Albrecht, who died of smallpox at just 18 months old.
From his mother Henriette, Albrecht had inherited the Weilburg in Baden as a minor, being her eldest son. After the death of his father, Archduke Carl, he inherited the remaining estates, including Halbturn.

Under Archduke Albrecht, the estate experienced a period of modernization and economic prosperity.

Archduke Friedrich (nephew and adopted son of Archduke Albrecht, Field Marshal and Austro-Hungarian Army Commander in World War I, married to Princess Isabella of Croy-Dülmen) inherited his uncle Albrecht’s vast estate and, over time, not least through the growth of his wealth, became one of the richest men in the monarchy. In addition to his military career, Friedrich acquired extensive knowledge in mining and metallurgy as well as in agriculture and forestry, particularly in dairy farming. As a military commander and representative of the imperial family, Archduke Friedrich held extraordinary rank and enjoyed great prestige.

He had Halbturn Castle extensively renovated so that it could be lived in year-round. The castle park was also expanded and redesigned in the English style. Alongside the Albertina in Vienna, Weilburg in Baden, and the Palais Grassalkovich in Pressburg (which now serves as the official residence of the Slovak President), Halbturn became his primary residence.

Archduke Albrecht inherited, after the death of his father Archduke Friedrich, the family’s remaining wealth and estates that had been retained in Austria and Hungary following the expropriations after World War I.
Towards the end of World War II, Albrecht stayed at Halbturn Castle for several months before fleeing the advancing Russian front and eventually emigrating to Argentina via Spain. Archduke Albrecht was married three times. He died in 1955 in Buenos Aires. His urn was only transferred to Austria many years later and interred in the Johanneskapelle in the Halbturn castle park.

Baron Paul Waldbott-Bassenheim, heir and nephew of his uncle Archduke Albrecht, had settled in Halbturn when the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 broke out and devoted all his efforts to assisting the massive influx of refugees that overwhelmed Burgenland. During this work, he met his future wife, Countess Marietheres Wickenburg, who was serving as a refugee coordinator at one of his estates.

The couple faced a burned-out ruin of the castle, whose restoration seemed impossible without external help. However, with the support of the Federal Monuments Office and the Burgenland state government, the reconstruction of the castle was realized. Paul Waldbott succeeded in restoring the agriculture, forestry, and viticulture of the estate, earning him great recognition and respect. In the restored castle, exhibitions have since been held with great success.

Baroness Marietheres Waldbott-Bassenheim dies on January 5^th in Vienna.
Her name will always be inseparably linked with the glorious history of Halbturn Castle. Her unwavering determination and vision brought the former ruin back to life. With remarkable dedication and a deep understanding of the castle’s cultural significance, she worked not only to restore its outer walls but also to revive its very spirit.

As founder and chairwoman of the cultural association, she managed its affairs with both passion and intelligence. Under her leadership, countless cultural events were launched, and the castle became a vibrant center for art, music, and literature.