Palais Starhemberg, Baroque palace in Innere Stadt, Austria.
Palais Starhemberg is a Baroque palace in Vienna's Innere Stadt with a symmetrical stone facade. The main staircase features white Kaiserstein and includes stone sculptures by Josef Klieber.
Count Conrad Balthasar von Starhemberg commissioned this palace in 1667. The building served as a key location during the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683.
The palace shows early Baroque style that Italian architects brought to Vienna during the 1600s. Visitors can see the result of this influence in the building's exterior and interior details.
The palace has housed the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research since 1970, so only the exterior is normally accessible. It stands on Minoritenplatz in the Innere Stadt, a short walk from the Herrengasse U3 station. A full renovation announced by the Burghauptmannschaft Österreich on 7 February 2025 is scheduled to run until 2029, so scaffolding may obscure the facade.
The white Kaiserstein used for the staircase steps came from imperial quarries and is known for exceptional durability. This stone was specifically chosen for the palace stairs because it withstands heavy use over centuries.
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