"The Park Hotel was undoubtedly the most elegant establishment in the town.
Combined with a café and a bar, it represented a definite centre for old-established, distinguished Villach society. It was more than a mere café or bar - it was a name, an attitude to life, it had become a byword for quality and refined taste. And, above all, it stood for tradition..."
Humbert Fink
Closed in 1989, the once proud building sank into a Sleeping Beauty slumber: the Park Hotel was not due to be reopened for another 9 years, in the autumn of 1998. But events took a different turn: on 18th December 1997, a fire broke out in the roof of the building (presumably due to negligence), completely destroying the newly renovated roof timbering. The upper floors which were saved from the fire were badly damaged by the water from the fire-hoses. The material damage amounted to 70 million Schillings, and the renovation work would take about 2 years.
The history and the anecdotes connected to this building have been recorded by two young Villach women. The pictures and stories offer a fascinating historic insight into the life of past decades: "Park Hotel Villach 1911 - 1999" by Cornelia Anthofer and Barbara Lex, published by Selene (ISBN 3-85266-124-2) The book has 90 pages, and includes many illustrations both in colour and black and white. |
