Paul Alfons Maria Clemens Lothar Philippus Neri Felix Nicomedes Prinz von Metternich-Winneburg (26 May 1917 – 21 September 1992) was a German-Austrian
racing driver
Auto racing (also known as car racing, motor racing, or automobile racing) is a motorsport involving the racing of automobiles for competition.
Auto racing has existed since the invention of the automobile. Races of various sorts were organise ...
and President of the
Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI), before becoming President of the
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA; en, International Automobile Federation) is an association established on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users. It is the governing body for ...
(FIA) in 1975.
Biography
Prince Paul Alfons von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein, known informally as Paul Metternich, was born in Vienna in the noble diplomatic family of
Metternich
Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar, Prince of Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein ; german: Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein (15 May 1773 – 11 June 1859), known as Klemens von Metternich or Prince Metternic ...
and was a great-grandson of the Austrian statesman
Klemens von Metternich
Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar, Prince of Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein ; german: Klemens Wenzel Nepomuk Lothar Fürst von Metternich-Winneburg zu Beilstein (15 May 1773 – 11 June 1859), known as Klemens von Metternich or Prince Metternic ...
. He attended the
Institut Le Rosey
Institut Le Rosey (), commonly referred to as Le Rosey or simply Rosey, is a private boarding school in Rolle, Switzerland. Founded in 1880 by Paul-Émile Carnal on the site of the 14th-century Château du Rosey in the town of Rolle in the canto ...
in
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
.
In 1940 in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's most populous city, according to population within city limits. One of Germany's sixteen constitue ...
, where he belonged to a circle of opponents of the Nazi regime, he met his future wife
Tatiana Vassiltschikov, who had a position in the foreign office. They were married in Berlin-Grunewald on 6 September 1941 and lived initially at
Kynžvart Castle
Kynžvart Castle (German: Schloss Königswart) is a historic château located near Lázně Kynžvart in the Cheb District of the Czech Republic. The building's architecture is in the neoclassical style. After extensive renovations, the castle was ...
(Schloss Königswart) in
Egerland
The Egerland ( cs, Chebsko; german: Egerland; Egerland German dialect: ''Eghalånd'') is a historical region in the far north west of Bohemia in what is today the Czech Republic, at the border with Germany. It is named after the German name ''Eg ...
(now in the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
).
In 1945 he was
expelled from Czechoslovakia and lost his property there. He moved to another family estate (from 1816), the winery
Schloss Johannisberg
Schloss Johannisberg is a castle and winery in the village of Johannisberg (Geisenheim), Johannisberg to the west of Wiesbaden, Hesse, in the Rheingau (wine region), Rheingau wine-growing region of Germany. It has been making wine for over 900 ...
in the
Rheingau, which had been destroyed in the war. He later rebuilt it and ran the winery with his wife.
He also became a racing car driver. Among other contests, he participated in the
Monte Carlo Rally
The Monte Carlo Rally or Rallye Monte-Carlo (officially ''Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo'') is a rallying event organised each year by the Automobile Club de Monaco. The rally now takes place along the French Riviera in Monaco and southeast ...
and the
1956 24 Hours of Le Mans. From 1960 he was President of the
Automobilclub von Deutschland
The German Motor Sport Federation (german: Deutscher Motor Sport Bund or ''DMSB'', formerly known as or ''ONS'') is Germany's motor racing governing body. It represents Germany at FIA and FIM.
The , founded in 1972 by Herbert Linge as , is con ...
. From 1975 until 1985 he was President of the worldwide automobile club FIA.
He was further engaged in the
Order of Saint Lazarus
The Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem, also known as the Leper Brothers of Jerusalem or simply as Lazarists, was a Catholic military order (monastic society), military order founded by crusaders around 1119 at a leprosy, leper hospital in Jerus ...
charity organisation and was Grand bailiff for the German Balliwick.
In 1979 he was awarded the
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (german: Verdienstorden der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, or , BVO) is the only federal decoration of Germany. It is awarded for special achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellect ...
.
His wife Tatiana was a well known
art patron. With his death in
Geneva
Geneva ( ; french: Genève ) frp, Genèva ; german: link=no, Genf ; it, Ginevra ; rm, Genevra is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and the most populous city of Romandy, the French-speaki ...
, the main line of the Metternich family became extinct. His widow was the last representative of the
House of Metternich-Winneburg.
Trivia
* The sparkling wine "Fürst von Metternich" was issued by the firm
Henkell & Co. Sektkellerei.
* He was editor of the book ''Fürstlicher Begleiter für Feinschmecker. Restaurants in Deutschland'' (Ducal Companion for Gourmets. Restaurants in Germany).
* The concert hall in Schloss Johannisberg is called Fürst-von-Metternich-Saal in his memory.
Le-Mans Results
Titles and honors
* :
**
![MCO Order of Grimaldi - Commander BAR](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/MCO_Order_of_Grimaldi_-_Commander_BAR.svg)
Commander of the
Order of Grimaldi
The Order of Grimaldi (usually called ''Ordre de Grimaldi'' but officially ''Ordre des Grimaldi'' according to the Ordonnance) is an Order established in Monaco on 18 November 1954.
Award
It is awarded to people who have contributed to the pre ...
(29 January 1972)
Sovereign Ordonnance n° 4.855 of 29 January 1972
Literature
*
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Metternichwinneburg, Paul Alfons Von
World Sportscar Championship drivers
24 Hours of Le Mans drivers
Auto racing executives
German racing drivers
German princes
House of Metternich
Commanders Crosses of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile presidents
Formula One people
1917 births
1992 deaths
People from the Rheingau