Key facts
- A campaign has been launched by Austrian cultural figures to purchase the Villa Europa, formerly owned by writer Stefan Zweig.
- The villa's current owner, Wolfgang Porsche, decided to sell the property after plans for a private tunnel sparked public outcry.
- Porsche is asking €12.7m (£11m) for the 17th-century property.
- The University of Salzburg is considering acquiring the villa as an interim measure.
- The university is in discussions with the federal ministry of women, science and research regarding the acquisition.
Austrian cultural figures have initiated a campaign to purchase the historic Villa Europa in Salzburg, once the residence of renowned writer Stefan Zweig. The move comes after its current owner, automotive magnate Wolfgang Porsche, decided to sell the property following a public backlash against his plans to construct a private 500-meter tunnel for his car collection. Zweig, an Austrian Jewish writer whose works inspired films like 'The Grand Budapest Hotel,' lived in the 17th-century villa until 1934, when he fled the Austro-fascist regime. The property, which served as a cultural hub frequented by figures like James Joyce and Thomas Mann, was bought by Porsche in 2020 for €8.4m (£7.2m). He has now listed it for €12.7m (£11m) after renovations. Singers, composers, and writers are among thousands who have signed a petition urging the government to acquire the villa, viewing it as a cultural responsibility to preserve and make accessible a significant piece of Austrian and European cultural history. Bernhard Fügenschuh, rector of the University of Salzburg, stated that the university has the means to secure the villa and would act as an interim owner, emphasizing the moral obligation to preserve it as a site of commemoration for Zweig. He noted that the window of opportunity is potentially short and that the villa is a visible symbol of Austria's historical responsibility. The university is in discussions with the federal ministry of women, science and research for approval. The purchase price includes planning permission for the tunnel, though any new owner would have until the end of 2028 to utilize it. Zweig himself had described the house as 'romantic and impractical,' noting its inaccessibility to cars and the climb required to reach it.