The History of the Panhans Grand Hotel

1888
The legendary Viennese chef Vinzenz Panhans opens his Panhans Hotel.

1905
The Viennese society discovers the Semmering. The train journey along steep rock faces, over staggering viaducts and galleries to the luxurious hotels becomes a spectacular experience.

1908
Archduke Karl Franz Josef, later Emperor Karl, the last Austrian Emperor, learns to ski on the lawns of the Panhans.

1912
Sensitive artists populate the Semmering increasingly. Oskar Kokoschka, Karl Kraus, Adolf Loos, Peter Altenberg, Arthur Schnitzler and later Gerhart Hauptmann and Stefan Zweig find their artistic inspirations here.

1913
After the completion of the Grand Hotel wing the Panhans with its 400 rooms becomes one of the largest hotels in Central Europe.

1918
Due to the ending of the monarchy the Semmering and consequently the Panhans lose their clients. The Panhans family must sell their house and during the hapless twenties the hotel changes hands on several occasions.

1930
The entrepreneur William D. Zimdin takes over the Panhans and with his innovation and his exceptional management secures a top position in the European hotel industry.

1932 to 1934
The largest alpine covered swimming pool with shifting glass walls is finished. The first Miss Austria beauty contest takes place in the Panhans and on February 4 in 1934 the first Austrian casino opens its gates.

The world of movies is at home here. Heinz Rührmann celebrates his wedding night in the famous Giebel Apartment, Josephine Baker discovers the pleasures of winter, Fritz Imhoff, Jan Kiepura, Maria Jeritza and Rudolf Forster enjoy the style and fair of the hotel. The racers Rudolf Caracciola and Hans Stuck fight for the victory in the Grand Prix of the Semmeringbergkönig.

After the turmoil of the Second World War the Semmering was part of the Russian occupation and the Iron Curtain separated the region from its original clientele. One hotel after the other closed down. And the last gala night in the Panhans took place on New Year's Eve 1969.

1978
The Viennese building contractor Kallinger acquires the huge complex and in an exemplary joint venture with Semmering Council and the County of Lower Austria revitalisation begins.

1983
This it the first year of business of a still small "New Panhans". As a prudent, far-sighted but venturesome owner Senator Dipl.-Ing. Anton Kallinger-Prskawetz expands the house in several stages till 1994 to nearly twice its size.

1994
The Panhans Health Club is presented as an attraction with a diverse leisure range. And again sophisticated artists from film, theatre and literature, political socialites from many countries and the society of Vienna and Budapest meet at the Panhans.

1995
First ladies' skiing world cup race on the Hirschenkogel.

1997
The Hotel Panhans takes over the municipal covered swimming pool.

1998
November 15: Opening of the gondola "Magic Mountain X-Press" on to the Hirschenkogel (the Panhans ltd. company is shareholder).

2001
In April the Panhans Hotel is awarded the Austrian Export prize 2001 for marketing abroad.

2003
Opening of the "Magic Bar" on the Magic Mountain (the Panhans ltd. company is shareholder).