IIASA and the Schloss Laxenburg

The final day of the conference on 26 October 2012 will be held at IIASA, which is based in the Schloss Laxenburg just south of Vienna. The Schloss was one of the three main residences of the imperial Habsburg family, and was enlarged to its present size by Empress Maria Theresa in the eighteenth century. Here the Habsburgs enjoyed relative freedom from the strict Spanish court etiquette at the Hofburg, but because only the Imperial rooms had heating facilities, the palace was used only in the warmer months.

During the Second World War, a German tank regiment was headquartered in the Schloss until it was driven out by the Soviets in 1945. They, in turn, used the palace until the four-power occupation of Austria ended in 1955. Over the next eighteen years, the Schloss stood empty and fell into disrepair. Then from 1973 to 1981, the Austrian Government completely renovated the Schloss and ever since have provided the palace to house IIASA.

Further information:

How to get to Schloss Laxenburg
The History of IIASA
The History of Schloss Laxenburg