There are events that ought to remain engraved in the memories of all those involved. Business meetings, for instance, at which important decisions are made and business partners impressed; or conferences that leave a lasting impression and should not be held in an anonymous setting; or — the most emotional of all occasions — weddings, which are staged as “the best day of your life,” a goal made or broken by the location.

“The Garden Palace is made to create memories,” says Juliana Werner on a guided tour through the Garden Palace. She is the Events Manager at Liechtenstein Real Estate and takes all those looking for a spectacular venue in Vienna through the rooms of the Garden Palace, one of the Liechtenstein Group’s two palaces.

Her tour through the house begins in the light-filled Sala Terrena, which used to be open to allow carriages to drive through. “It was a summer residence, which Hans Adam von Liechtenstein had built in the — at that time — modern Baroque style to impress his guests,” recounts Werner. And, for all intents and purposes, it continues to do so today.

Nowadays, the once open areas are lavishly spacious interiors. “Guests are welcomed here,” she states, going past the carriage to the doors into the garden, which is included in the venue hire.

Weddings take place on this side, she says. The so-called Ladies’ Apartments open up to the right. “They are mostly dance floors for weddings and rooms for break-out sessions at conferences,” she explains. The other direction takes you to art galleries that house the Liechtenstein family’s private collection. “Where in the world can you book an event in a museum?” she asks. Many people decide on the Garden Palace precisely for this reason.

The tour then continues up the marble steps to the upper floor. The showpiece of the Garden Palace is the Hercules Hall with its fantastic ceiling frescoes by the Italian Baroque painter Andrea Pozzi, depicting a seemingly endless sky. This is where exclusive dinners for up to 300 guests are held at large round tables. She has been there many times before to pull the strings in the background.

Tours through the palace with Juliana Werner vary in length. They can last from 20 minutes to three hours depending on clients’ level of interest. Most are impressed, she says, by the great deal of technology that lies beneath the Baroque surface. Doors open as if by themselves, sound and light systems are hidden in their own small side rooms; you find every 21^st-century amenity. As a result, many clients also say that the Garden Palace feels really “personal.” Something appreciated by many Americans. “You can experience European history first-hand in the Garden Palace.”

“You can experience European History first-hand in the garden palace“

Head of Event Management & Marketing
Palais Liechtenstein

Juliana Werner also looks after all those who choose the Garden Palace following her tour. The entire Garden Palace is always hired for a period of at least ten hours. The costs are set out transparently on the website for consultation. The hire cost does not include equipment and catering, which must be organized by third-party providers themselves. “We advise and make our experienced network available,” states Werner. She is referring to caterers with the appropriate equipment and wait staff who can cope with going up and down lots of stairs, or sound engineers familiar with the acoustics of high-ceilinged rooms. “We are well versed in the pitfalls and difficulties with the space in advance,” notes Werner.

In some respect, Juliana Werner and her colleagues are also part of the fixtures. “During events, my working hours begin when the first supplier enters the palace and end when everything has been handed back again spick and span,” she says, continuing into all the Garden Palace’s “backstage” rooms. In the kitchen, for instance: a long elongated room with lots of tables, on which the dishes are served for the gala dinners. Staff changing rooms and washrooms are available. However, the caterers must bring the kitchen equipment themselves, as the Liechtenstein Group only provides a cool room.

Speaking of backstage: on the Garden Palace’s basement floor, there are not only cloakrooms for the guests but also cloakrooms for the artists, which are always needed when cultural events are held in the Garden Palace. The Garden Palace is popular for concerts in a private setting. A stage and golden chairs are arranged in Hercules Hall for this purpose. Many cruise groups stop off at the Garden Palace. According to Werner, “Shore leave with champagne, ballet and Mozart” is a highlight of every journey.

However, extremely illustrious guests sometimes also come this way to the Garden Palace. One of Juliana Werner’s favorite projects over the past year was a film shoot for an HBO series.

While Hollywood stars may be rather rare, newlyweds are frequent guests. Weddings, she recounts, enjoy a truly fairytale-like setting in the Sala Terrena. The park is idyllic, especially when the weather is fine, and is also closed to the public for the duration of the event. Time and again at wedding parties, she happily shares the anecdote that the Golden Carriage in the Sala Terrena was originally made to collect and impress Princess Isabella of Parma, the future bride of Crown Prince Joseph II.

However, Juliana Werner usually keeps the final highlight of the tour for last: the art galleries complete with the Liechtenstein collection, which is presented here in a private setting for guests. It is popular as an accompanying program for conferences and weddings alike. “Alone in the museum,” you might say, and it goes without saying that there are also art mediators on hand in the galleries to provide information. “Visiting a private art collection all by yourself, i.e., without the public, is an unforgettable experience,” she understands.

An extra service from Liechtenstein Real Estate: the Events Manager also accompanies her clients during the events. “We are on site and have our hands full, because we know every corner, every problem and every solution,” she laughs. Juliana Werner only goes home when the last guest leaves the Garden Palace. For weddings, it may not be until the sun comes up.

www.palaisliechtenstein.com