Key facts
- Wolfgang Porsche has listed his historic 17th-century villa in Salzburg, Austria, for sale.
- The property, known as Paschinger Schlössl, was purchased in 2020 for €8.4m.
- Porsche had obtained planning permission for a private 500-meter tunnel to the villa.
- The tunnel project faced significant public opposition and protests.
- The villa is now on the market for €12.7m, with the tunnel permission included.
- The planning permission for the tunnel expires at the end of 2028.
Wolfgang Porsche, a prominent figure in the automotive industry, has decided to sell his historic 17th-century villa in Salzburg, Austria, following a public outcry over his controversial plan to construct a private 500-meter tunnel. The villa, known locally as the Paschinger Schlössl, was acquired by Porsche in 2020 for €8.4 million. His vision involved a subterranean tunnel leading from a municipal car park to an underground garage at the villa, capable of housing eight cars.
The proposal ignited significant opposition from locals, particularly due to the property's historical importance as the former residence of writer Stefan Zweig. Protesters decried the plan as a symbol of inequality amidst a housing shortage and rising rents in the city, with slogans like "A city for everyone instead of a tunnel for one" appearing around Salzburg.
Porsche has now placed the 12-room estate on the market for €12.7 million. The sales pitch highlights the approved planning permission for the private tunnel, which is valid until the end of 2028, as a unique feature. City authorities, however, stated they cannot afford to purchase the villa, dashing hopes of it becoming a museum dedicated to Stefan Zweig.
While opponents of the tunnel view Porsche's decision to sell as a victory, some, like the Greens in Salzburg, are calling for the planning permission to be withdrawn, arguing it facilitates real estate speculation. A real estate manager for Porsche confirmed the sale, describing the controversy as an "envy-driven debate" and declining to state Porsche's specific motivations for abandoning the project.