Skip to content
Menu
Viva Strauss
  • Welcome to the world of Strauss
  • Kings of Waltz
    • Harry Coseman
    • Rudy Giovannini
    • André Rieu
    • Johann Strauss Ensemble
    • Vienna Johann Strauss Orchestra
  • news
  • Austria: spectacular culture and landscapes
    • Waltzing in Vienna
    • The Viennese Waltz and the Quick Step
  • Strauss collectibles
  • Contact us
Viva Strauss

Birthplace of Josef Strauss re-opens as hotel

12 October, 202112 February, 2022 by The Waltz

A historic hotel in Vienna was re-designed and re-opened some time back as the Hotel Motto. What’s the connection with Strauss? The luxury hotel is known as the birthplace of Josef Strauss, son of the famous composer Johann Strauss Senior (and therefore brother of Johann Junior). He called the hotel home in 1827. Josef was a noted composer in his own right, but suffered poor health and eventually died after falling from a stage in Warsaw.

The same building has housed hotels for over three centuries. The first property, The Golden Cross, opened in 1665 and much later became known as the prestigious Hotel Kummer in 1872. The stylish building quickly became a social hub for artists, painters, sculptors, writers, actors and musicians. They gathered for coffee, wine and the inevitable Austrian delicacies in the hotel’s public spaces. In 1904 the building was again refurbished, this time by Ludwig Schwarz.

The décor of the upper floors was especially elaborate and some of the interiors have been preserved, despite the damage cause by the allied occupation of post-World War II Vienna. The hotel was taken over by the French from 1945 until 1955. The architecture is infused with Renaissance and Baroque references layered with elements of the Gothic and byzantine styles. The towers and domes as well as the configuration of the façade were originally constructed by the top artisans of the Vienna Artisan Craft movement. They have been preserved and play a pivotal role in the layout of the property. The signature roof has been re-designed while keeping the distinctive original form.

At the time it was still Hotel Kummer, Hotel Motto was also the setting of John Irving’s celebrated novel The Hotel New Hampshire. The subsequent movie was not shot there, however.

Visit the Hotel Motto

1 thought on “Birthplace of Josef Strauss re-opens as hotel”

  1. Inglês Foco says:
    11 February, 2022 at 10:11 pm

    Great post!!! I’m going to visit Vienna in June with my wife.
    Right now I’ve showed her your article and we loved this hotel! Maybe we will stay in it. Thank you very much!!!
    Inglês Foco recently posted..O mito de aprender inglês com professor nativoMy Profile

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Multilingual Website

EnglishFrenchGermanItalianPortugueseRussianSpanish

Johann Strauss II: complete orchestral edition

Recent Posts

  • Birthplace of Josef Strauss re-opens as hotel
  • Harry Coseman releases “Emilie, Emilie”, announces first show
  • A webinar to discover the musical history of the waltz
  • Johann Strauss Ensemble release “Waltzing Matilda” and announce New Year’s Shows
  • Austria’s Musikverein announces concerts in June and September

Recent Comments

  • Inglês Foco on Birthplace of Josef Strauss re-opens as hotel
  • Cosemans Guy on Contact us
  • The Waltz on André Rieu
  • Georgie M on Washington DC to enjoy a Night in Vienna
  • David Anthony on André Rieu

Archives

  • October 2021
  • July 2021
  • October 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • May 2019
  • February 2017
  • January 2016
  • September 2015
  • July 2015
  • February 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • March 2014
  • January 2014
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • June 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012

Categories

  • Events
  • news
  • Waltz video

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org
©2022 Viva Strauss | Powered by WordPress and Superb Themes!