Palais Obizzi

The Palais Obizzi is a palace in the first district of Vienna Inner City. The facade of the palace is, unlike its interiors and furnishings, still perfectly preserved. Is particularly striking that only uniaxial facade to Steindlgasse.

The original house on the site of today's palace was since 1580 owned by the Starhemberg family. Among these was a two-storey extension. In 1690 the house finally came into the possession of the commander of the City Watch, Ferdinand marquis of Obizzi. He had the house for today's Palais expand and elevated it to another floor. Especially the interior of the palace was magnificently furnished in the course of this work with wall paintings and stucco work. In the 18th century the palace was mostly in bourgeois hands. However, in the years 1799 to 1826 it passed into the possession of the Counts Marzani. As of 1826, there were now only more middle-class families as the owner of the palace.

In 1901 the city of Vienna finally decided to buy the building, as you saw it primarily as an obstacle to traffic in urban development. Ultimately, they decided yet, Palais Obizzi not to pull off. In 1917 they then presented the premises to the newly founded museum watches available, which opened its first exhibition in 1921 and is still there today.