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 responsible for Palais Liechtenstein’s events management & marketing at Liechtenstein Real Estate and, together with her team, takes all those looking for a spectacular venue in Vienna through the magnificent rooms of the Garden Palace, one of several palaces belonging to the Liechtenstein Group.

Her tour through the house begins in the light-filled Sala Terrena, which used to be open, in the style of Italian palace buildings, to allow carriages to drive through. “It was a summer residence, which Johann Adam Andreas I 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 extensive garden, which is available for exclusive private use when hiring the venue.

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 the classical library that houses the Liechtenstein family’s private book collection. “Where in the world can you book an event in a location that makes art come so alive?” 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 Pozzo, depicting a seemingly endless sky. This is where exclusive dinners for up to 300 guests are held at large round gala tables. She has been there many times before to pull the strings in the background.

Visits through the palace with Juliana Werner and her team vary in length. They can last from 30 minutes to three hours depending on clients’ level of interest. Most are impressed, she says, by the innovative 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 21st-century amenity. As a result, many clients also say that the Garden Palace feels really “personal.” Something appreciated by many international guests.

“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 visit. The entire Garden Palace is always hired for a period of at least ten hours. Equipment and catering are not included when hiring the premises; they must be organized by each event client themselves with third-party providers. “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, our 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 in the past few years was a film shoot for an HBO series.

On the other hand, Juliana Werner has extensive experience with wedding 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 can also be closed to the public for the duration of an event. Time and again at wedding parties, she happily shares the story that the Golden Carriage in the Sala Terrena was originally made (among other things) to fetch Princess Isabella of Parma, the future bride of Crown Prince Joseph II.

Juliana Werner usually keeps the final highlight of the visit for last: the art gallery complete with the Liechtenstein collection, which can be viewed here in a private setting by guests, is equally popular as an accompanying program for all kinds of events. “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 without the public is an unforgettable experience,” she understands.

A special service from Liechtenstein Real Estate: Palais Liechtenstein’s 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