Elisabeth Empress of Austria, Sissi
As spouse of Francis Joseph I, Elisabeth of Bavaria was Empress of Austria and Queen of Hungary and Bohemia. Friends and family called her “Sissi” from an early age. Elisabeth was considered to be a free spirit who abhorred conventional court protocol; she has inspired filmmakers and theatrical producers alike. Read more about how this colourful personality and Trauttmansdorff Castle are connected.An Imperial Holiday Residence
Empress Elisabeth of Austria arrived at Trauttmansdorff Castle in October 1870 with her two daughters, Gisela (14) and Marie Valerie (2), in order to pass the winter months in the pleasant climate of the Southern Alps. They occupied the splendidly furnished rooms on the top floor of the castle, living under ornate, frescoed wooden ceilings. The Empress’s 102-person entourage installed themselves in other castles and residences nearby.Vienna newspapers reported within a few weeks of their arrival at Trauttmansdorff that the ailing Marie Valerie was already reaping the benefits of Merano’s mild winter climate: this lay the foundation for the city’s reputation as a spa resort. Elisabeth stayed at the castle for seven months, during which time Emperor Franz came to visit four times.
The second imperial visit
In September of 1889, Empress Elisabeth returned to Trauttmansdorff Castle a second time. Eight months before, her son Crown Prince Rudolf had taken his own life in Mayerling. Sissi – now the “Woman in Black” – remained sequestered during her stay, rarely showing herself beyond the castle walls.Today, Sissi’s former apartments house a part of the Touriseum’s collection, and are accessible to all visitors.
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The Woman in Black
The Touriseum Collection