Fountain on Erdödy Square

Until recently, the the small fountain had been almost overgrown and hardly visible for decades. In 2024, the Cultural Heritage Society of Bad Ischl (Ischler Heimatverein) had it uncovered again. Master stonemason Brucker not only cleaned the marble fountain bowl, but also tried to make it look more attractive again. Initially, the fountain probably served as a watering place for pets.

Historical information about Erdödy Square (by Franz Federspiel):

The square is named after the Counts Erdödy, who probably donated it after the family had acquired the newly built neighboring villa in 1864. The Erdödy Villa was owned by the Erdödy family until 1897. In that year, it was purchased by the “Waltz King”, Johann Strauss, after he had rented it for several years during the summer months. The Strauss Villa, which unfortunately was leveled, is still remembered by many.

Erdödy Square first appears in a travel guide in 1868, and is mentioned together with the neighboring, very busy Metternich Square. While the view towards the market was the main feature of Metternich Square (it was located at the ground edge with Kaltenbachau), Erdödy Square was recommended for “friends of isolation”.  For this reason, it is assumed that the square was a bit off the beaten track.

The square was probably mentioned for the last time during the negotiations on the route of the local railway in 1891/92. According to the Ischler Wochenblatt newspaper, the railway route was supposed to pass behind Erdödy Square and Prince’s Square (Fürstenplatz). The municipal authorities of Ischl were actually in favour of a railway tunnel under Hohenbruck Villa (today Posterholungsheim building), but could not prevail. In the end, the route ran in front, running between Fürstenplatz and Erdödy Square and the ground edge and past Rudolfshöhe Hotel (later Miramonti Hotel). The Kaltenbach train stop was located near the fountain at Erdödy Square and the next stop in the direction of Salzburg was in Pfandl.