Hetzendorf Palace, a baroque jewel in Vienna's Meidling district, originated as an imperial hunting lodge before architect Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt transformed it for the Habsburg dynasty. In 1743, Empress Maria Theresa had Nicolas Pacassi enlarge the palace for her mother, Empress Elizabeth Christine, creating one of Vienna's most significant baroque residences. The palace hosted pivotal moments in imperial history and birthplace of Archduchess Adelheid in 1914. Since 1946, it has housed Austria's premier fashion and design school, preserving its elegant interiors while adapting to modern educational purposes, though the chapel and courtyard café remain open to the public.
