Schloss Blühnbach Castle | The Frederick R. Koch Foundation

Mission Statement

To promote and increase public awareness of Austrian historic monument significance and preservation, with particular support for the protection, maintenance, and educational use of Schloss Blühnbach.

To further support studies in the fields of art, culture, and social sciences, through educational activity for the benefit of the common good.

Present Day

Schloss Blühnbach housed many very influential people; some of whom changed the course of our world’s history. That is why Mr. Koch sought after it. Frederick R. Koch was an American philanthropist and connoisseur who devoted his life to collecting and maintaining historically important pieces of art, literature, music, and architecture. Schloss Bluhnbach is one the few hidden gems that Mr. Koch acquired and willed to preserve as a piece of his legacy.

Today, the castle is owned by the FRK foundation, Mr. Koch’s foundation. Like the other US locations owned by the Foundation, we intend to utilize this bucolic space as a safe place for young artists and art historians to learn and grow in their field. A platform to be seen by the world, to expand their knowledge and their visibility as artists.

History

Located in the Broad basin at the end of the river Blühnbach just west of Tenneck lies Schloss Blühnbach–a magnificent estate nestled high in the mountains of the Austrian Federal Province of Salzburg.

Situated 2,684ft above sea level amidst towering snow-covered peaks, Blühnbach was built more than four centuries ago as a romantic hunting lodge. The guests of the lodge were primarily the archbishops of Salzburg, princes of the Church, and other heads of state. This beautiful, multi-season oasis would provide an escape for these individuals; a place to enjoy worldly pleasures away from the rest of the world.”

Idyllically situated amidst towering snow-covered peaks not far from Salzburg, Blühnbach was built more than four centuries ago as a romantic hunting lodge so that the archbishops of Salzburg and other heads ofs tate and princes of the Church could go there in summer to enjoy worldly pleasures undisturbed

Press Pack

In 1431 Archbishop Johann II issued a letter of fief to Pliembach, which contained this name for the first time.

This was associated with the following legend : When Archbishop Hartwig consecrated a church in this valley, a dry branch is said to have sprouted flowers in his hand (hence Pluebach). The castle was originally a wooden hunting lodge, but was later expanded into a brick hunting lodge from 1603 to 1607.

The heir to the throne, Franz Ferdinand, had the hunting lodge rebuilt and refurbished by cathedral builder Ludwig Simon in 1910.

Along with the major renovation to the castle, Franz had 14,000 hectares of forest converted into a ruling domain that was cordoned off from the outside world and only used for hunting. In 1914, Franz Ferdinand was assassinated. His murder later became known as ‘the shot heard around the world’ and was the cornerstone to the start of World War 1.

Mission Statement

To promote and increase, inter alia, public awareness of Austrian historic monument significance and preservation, with particular support for the protection, maintenance, and educational use of Blühnbach Castle.

To further support studies in the fields of art, culture, and social sciences, through educational activity for the benefit of the common good.