Hunting Lodge At Mayerling: A Tourists' Guide

The former hunting lodge of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria, located in Mayerling, Lower Austria, is now a convent and museum. On 30 January 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf was found dead with his 17-year-old mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, in an apparent murder-suicide. The hunting lodge was then acquired by Emperor Franz Joseph I, who transformed it into a convent for nuns of the Discalced Carmelite Order. Today, visitors can tour the site, including the church, the Elisabeth chapel, and display rooms with artefacts related to the tragedy.

The hunting lodge's history

The hunting lodge at Mayerling, Austria, was once an imperial hunting lodge owned by Crown Prince Rudolf, the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown. In 1886, Crown Prince Rudolf acquired the manor and transformed it into a hunting lodge.

The lodge is most well-known for being the site of the tragic "Mayerling incident" in 1889. On January 30, 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf was found dead alongside his 17-year-old mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera. The exact circumstances of their deaths remain a mystery, but it appeared to be a murder-suicide. Letters written by Vetsera shortly before her death indicated that she intended to commit suicide alongside the Crown Prince out of love.

In the years leading up to the incident, Crown Prince Rudolf had become increasingly disillusioned with his life. He had a tumultuous marriage with Princess Stéphanie of Belgium, and he had infected her with syphilis, rendering her unable to have more children. He also had differing political views from his father, Emperor Franz Joseph I, who ran an absolutist police state. The Emperor was aware of his son's political leanings and excluded him from government affairs.

After the Mayerling incident, Emperor Franz Joseph I had the hunting lodge converted into a convent for nuns of the Discalced Carmelite Order. The church was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the convent to Saint Joseph. A statue of the Virgin Mary in the Lady Chapel bears the facial features of Empress Elisabeth, and a dagger pierces the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The main cross in the chapel marks the spot where the bed of Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera was located.

Today, the former hunting lodge is known as Karmel Mayerling. Visitors can tour the church, the Elisabeth chapel, and several display rooms containing objects related to the Mayerling incident. The nearby "Museum Altes Jagdschloss Mayerling" also exhibits objects from the 19th century and provides information about the history of the lodge.

The Mayerling incident

Mayerling Lodge had been acquired by Crown Prince Rudolf in 1886, and he transformed it into a hunting lodge. Rudolf was the only son of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Empress Elisabeth, and heir to the Austro-Hungarian crown. He was married to Princess Stéphanie of Belgium, but their union was not a happy one, and he had several mistresses. One of these mistresses was Mary Vetsera, the daughter of a diplomat at the Austrian court.

On the morning of 30 January 1889, Rudolf and Vetsera were found dead in the hunting lodge. Rudolf was found sitting (or, by some accounts, lying) motionless by the side of the bed, bleeding from the mouth. Vetsera's body lay on the bed, and rigor mortis had already set in. Initially, it was thought that Rudolf had died of poison, but it was later determined that he had been shot at close range.

The exact circumstances of their deaths remain a mystery, with various theories being proposed over the years. Some believe that it was a double suicide, as suggested by letters written by Vetsera to her family, in which she states her intention to commit suicide alongside Rudolf. Others allege that it was a double murder masked as a murder-suicide, or that Rudolf was murdered by Vetsera's relatives after he accidentally shot her. Another theory suggests that Rudolf died in a drinking brawl.

The incident had significant political implications, as it interrupted the direct line of Habsburg dynastic succession, leading to a destabilisation of the growing reconciliation between the Austrian and Hungarian factions of the empire. Ultimately, it contributed to a series of events that led to the start of the First World War.

The lodge's transformation into a convent

The hunting lodge at Mayerling, Austria, was transformed into a convent following the deaths of Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, in 1889. Emperor Franz Joseph, the father of Crown Prince Rudolf, was responsible for the lodge's conversion.

The building became a convent for nuns of the Discalced Carmelite Order. The church within the convent was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the convent itself to Saint Joseph. A statue of the Virgin Mary in the Lady Chapel is said to bear the facial features of Empress Elisabeth, the mother of Crown Prince Rudolf. The main cross in the chapel is located where the bed of Rudolf and Vetsera once stood, and prayers are still said daily by the nuns for the repose of their souls.

The bed from the corner room of the lodge where the couple died is now exhibited at the Imperial Furniture Depot in Vienna. The remaining building now houses eleven devout Carmelite nuns, who lead a frugal and secluded life. The showrooms contain a series of photographs, drawings, quotes, and personal objects that provide insight into the lives of Rudolf and Vetsera, leading up to the tragic incident.

A visitor centre was opened near the convent in 2014, along with the restored tea pavilion and other rooms featuring 19th-century objects. Together, they form the exhibition of the "Museum Altes Jagdschloss Mayerling".

The lodge's architecture

The hunting lodge at Mayerling, Austria, is described as a "baroque bungalow". It was painted green, with white window shutters, and had a second floor in part.

The lodge was an Imperial hunting lodge in the Vienna Woods, situated 24 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of Vienna. It was acquired by Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria in 1886, who transformed it into a hunting lodge.

The lodge was the site of the tragic Mayerling incident in 1889, in which Crown Prince Rudolf and his mistress, Baroness Mary Vetsera, were found dead, apparently as a result of a suicide pact.

After the deaths, Emperor Franz Joseph had the lodge changed into a convent. Today, it is a Carmelite monastery, with a church located on the exact spot where the deaths of Crown Prince Rudolf and Mary Vetsera took place.

Touring the lodge today

The former hunting lodge of Crown Prince Rudolf, now known as Karmel Mayerling, is open to visitors. The lodge, located about an hour from Vienna, has been transformed into a Carmelite convent, with a church and museum dedicated to the tragic events of 30 January 1889.

The church, Karmel Mayerling, is located on the exact spot where Crown Prince Rudolf and his 17-year-old lover, Mary Freiin Vetsera, died. The church features a statue of the Virgin Mary with a dagger piercing her heart, with the facial features of Empress Elisabeth. The main cross in the chapel marks the spot where the bed of the couple was situated.

The museum, "Museum Altes Jagdschloss Mayerling", includes the restored tea pavilion and other rooms with 19th-century objects. Visitors can view display boards and learn about the history and tragedy of the lodge. The museum also displays the suicide note, the pistol used, and other related artefacts.

Guided tours are available for groups of 15 people with prior notice. The tours are currently only offered in German, but translation options are available. The convent is open daily during the summer months from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with the last entry at 5:00 p.m. From November to March, the convent is open on weekends and holidays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Holy Mass is held from Monday to Saturday at 6:45 a.m. and on Sundays and holidays at 7:00 p.m. Visitors can also explore the beautiful gardens surrounding the lodge.

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