Archduchess Marianne’s visit to one of the potential ‘crime scenes’ in the Augustinian Church required a considerable amount of preliminary research on my part. Curiously enough, even guiding her through her own home proved quite a challenge.
Hofburg Palace served as the residence of the Habsburgs for centuries, and every era left its mark on the structure. In the 18th century, it had reached roughly two-thirds of its modern size. During the reign of Maria Theresa, buildings that had previously stood apart were integrated into the main palace complex, creating a vast conglomeration of wings and corridors on different levels, featuring a whole range of extensions serving various purposes, and combining private apartments with public state halls.
The imagined route of the three ladies is as follows: from the family apartments in the Leopoldine Wing, they proceed to the Palace Chapel located in the Swiss Court and continue through the small courtyard to reach the Redoute Wing. At this point, I paused in some hesitation: I am not entirely sure whether a direct indoor passage to the Imperial Library existed in 1757. However, as the library was not yet connected to the Augustinian convent, the ladies would have had to step outside again, cross the large windy square, and turn the corner to reach the entrance to the church.
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