Palais Modena, Historic palace in Innere Stadt, Austria

Palais Modena sits on Herrengasse with a symmetrical facade featuring eighteen windows distributed across three floors. The building has two large carriage gates and an octagonal entrance hall that connects various reception rooms.

The Dietrichstein family owned the building starting in 1515 until Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Este acquired it in 1811. This transfer prompted major renovations that brought the house to its current form.

The name comes from Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Este, daughter of the Duke of Modena, who bought the house in 1811 and had it rebuilt in 1814 to plans by Alois Pichl. The Sala terrena from that period survives and was uncovered again during the 2004 restoration, when the chapel was also rebuilt. The staircase carries statues of Athene, Diana and Ceres, and the lunettes show classical gods in small reliefs.

The building serves as headquarters for the Federal Ministry of Interior and functions as an active government building today. Visitors should note that it is an official administrative building, so interior access may be limited.

From 1872 to 1918 the palace housed the k.k. Ministerratspräsidium, the office and sometimes the residence of the Austrian minister-president; Heinrich Lammasch was the last to hold the post until 11 November 1918. The editorial office of the Wiener Zeitung also sat here from 1869 to 1894, with the printing works and the telegraph correspondence bureau in the rear wing.