“Mozart’s Last Castle” was put up for sale: the owners have no one to hand it over to

The castle that was home to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s hauntingly beautiful Requiem will soon be auctioned by Sotheby’s. The historic home was valued at 12 million euros. There are 50 rooms in the building, there is a garden and dungeons. Previously, the owners reported that this was “Mozart’s last resting place before his death.”

The nearly 900-year-old Austrian castle where Wolfgang Mozart wrote Requiem, his last work before his death in 1791, will go up for auction on December 1. It is one of the few buildings in Lower Austria still in private hands, according to the Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions listing.

The residence with a dungeon, a baroque garden, the famous Requiem chapel and a concert hall was valued at 12 million euros, reports The New York Post.

“This is a magical place with world history,” admitted owner Reinhard Zellinger. He and his wife Rita bought the castle, which was in ruins, and turned it into a popular destination for lovers of Mozart and classical music. The couple spent 15 years restoring the castle. Work on the rest of the property continues, they said.

The historic home spans nearly 2,500 square feet and features antique furnishings, four bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a movie theater, a library, a chapel and even a dungeon. Exquisite millwork, ornate crystal chandeliers, wood-burning fireplaces and parquet floors can be found throughout the estate. Portions of the building have been converted into a club lounge, concert halls and retail outlets, according to the announcement.

“The castle, a well-known landmark in the area, is a historical gem and a constant source of culture and art,” comments listing agent Mikaela Orisic of Austria Sotheby’s International Realty, who added that the building “can be modified to suit the dreams of the new owner.” .

The house hosted more than 160 concerts by the most talented musicians and performers, which attracted more than 12 thousand visitors from all over the world.

The Zellingers dubbed their enterprise “Mozart’s Last Castle” after performing the “Requiem” in 1997 at the place where it was written with the participation of the Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra ORF.

Rita Zellinger recalls: “A speaker at the event called it Mozart’s last castle. We jumped on it and it started our own brand which has evolved over the last 25 years.”

The earliest mention of the castle dates back to 1130, with additional buildings in the 15th and 17th centuries, according to a detailed description for the auction. As a result, the 50-room building combines the styles of the Middle Ages, Renaissance and Baroque. In 1791, the luxurious monastery was the home of Count Franz Anton Walseg. The Count commissioned Mozart to write the famous Requiem in D minor in honor of his late wife. Mozart himself died without finishing the work, leaving his student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, to pick up where he left off. The completed manuscript was given to Walseg in 1792, after which it remained in the castle until 1830, when it was decided to move it to the Austrian National Library. In 2001, the valuable document was insured for $7.97 million, making it one of the most valuable music manuscripts in the world.

According to Top 10 Real Estate Deals, in addition to Mozart, the castle was visited by Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, composer Franz Schubert, Pope Pius VI, Princess Isabella of Parma and Emperor Franz Stefan von Lothringen.

While the Zellingers find every room in the castle charming, they especially love the Requiem Chapel. “It is the seat of absolute power of the castle. This is the heart,” says the owner of the estate.

The chapel served two functions, as Rita Zellinger says, it was a Catholic church and a Masonic temple. The couple believe that this place has magical properties.

Noting that they had done a good job restoring the historic site, the Zellingers explained why they were parting with Mozart’s Last Castle – they had no children to pass it on to.

They believe now is “the right moment for the transfer. Since the castle will be marketed as a successful business model, we are more than happy to offer our support to the new owner. We are confident that he will live unforgettable moments in the castle, just as we did.”