Mirabell Palace

In 1606 Prince Archbishop Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau had a palace built outside the town walls for Salome Alt which he called “Altenau". Salome Alt was the daughter of the prominent merchant and councillor, Wilhelm Alt, and the prince archbishop’s mistress. She bore him 15 children, of which 10 survived. Salome Alt had no political significance.

After Wolf Dietrich’s death - he was forced to abdicate in 1612 and was held captive in the Fortress until his death - Altenau was re-named “Mirabell” by his successor, Markus Sittikus von Hohenems (1612 - 1619). Prince Archbishop Paris Lodron (1619 - 1653) included the palace and gardens in his extended ring of fortifications. He spent much of his leisure time at Mirabell which he loved and where he died on December 15, 1653.