Deutschmeister-Palais

The Deutschmeister-Palais or Palais Erzherzog Wilhelm is a building in

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

located at Parkring 8. It was designed in the years 1864–1868 by the Danish-Austrian architect

Theophil von Hansen Baron Theophil Edvard von Hansen (; original Danish name: Theophilus Hansen ; 13 July 1813 – 17 February 1891) was a Danish architect who later became an Austrian citizen. He became particularly well known for his buildings and structures in ...

(1813–1891) as a residence for

Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria Archduke Wilhelm Franz Karl of Austria-Teschen (German: Erzherzog Wilhelm Franz Karl von Habsburg-Lothringen, 21 April 1827 – 29 April 1894) was an Archduke of Austria from the House of Habsburg. He was born in Vienna as the son of Archduk ...

(1827–1894), who at that time was

Grand Master of the Teutonic Knights The Grand Master of the Teutonic Order (german: Hochmeister des Deutschen Ordens; la, Magister generalis Ordo Teutonicus) is the supreme head of the Teutonic Order. It is equivalent to the grand master of other military orders and the super ...

(''Deutschmeister''). The building face includes statues by the Austrian sculptor

Joseph Gasser von Valhorn Joseph Gasser, after 1879: Ritter von Valhorn (22 November 1816, Wallhorn, near Prägraten - 28 October 1900, Prägraten) was an Austrian sculptor Life and work His father, Jakob, was a Master carpenter. His younger brother, Hans, also became ...

. From 1938 to 1945 it was the seat of the Viennese SS headquarters, then from 1945 to 1974 it served as the Federal Police Department in Vienna. Today it holds the offices of the

OPEC Fund for International Development The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) is an intergovernmental development finance institution established in 1976 by the member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The OPEC Fund was conceived ...

. Palaces in Vienna Theophil Hansen buildings {{Austria-palace-stub