Austria-Hungary Emperor Karl'S Last Home

[paul wood]

I have just returned from a lovely fortnight in Madeira. The first full day I was there I went above Madeira to Monte to see the "5 Gardens of the Emperor" which is where the Emperor Karl lived from November 1921 until his untimely death on 1 April 1922. I was I must admit quite surprised. I was the only visitor there. The garden where quite nice but neglected in places, some of the out buildings have been restored and photos related to the emperor placed on the walls,. The main house however is in a fairly ruinous state and is borded up, the only part restored is at the rear and is used as a public lavatory (taking the Pxxx literaly). It seems such a tragedy that some money cannot be found to restore the house to its former glory. Surely it's a project which Austrian and EU funds could be used for. It is a shame that it seems off the tourist track and if it was better publicised I am sure that more people would visit it. The church where his funeral took place is packed with tourists. I would be especially interested if Christian has any ideas.

All the best,

Paul

[Les]

Paul,

Don't expect the Republic of Austria to provide any funding, support, or more than a token nod of the head towards the "Habsburg situation" either in or out of Austria. The reason for that centers on what the Habsburgs owned personally, or had an interest in, prior to the end of the monarchy and formation of the Republic after WWI. Any recognition of the family after 1918, has potential legal, political, and especially economic implications that the Republic would like to avoid entirely. That is part of the reason, the Habsburgs are never publicly or formally invited to state visits within Austria, etc.

The Habsburgs could argue much if not everything that was confiscated by the Austrian Republic was personal property of the family or family members, and should either be returned or compensated for their loss. It's doubtful that any Austrian court would rule in favor of Habsburg claims, which could ruin the country financially if artwork, land, jewelry, and so on were returned or had to be paid for at current values. Could the Habsburgs try going to an international court? Perhaps, but then the family would also have to include lands and possessions that were part of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire also.

For a variety of reasons, neither the Republic of Austria (or any of the inheritor states of the former A-H Empire) are inclined to formally recognize the Habsburgs, or any potential claims, the Habsburgs have more or less come to terms with the political and economic realities of a post-1918 world.

Les