Austrian cultural figures have launched a major campaign to acquire a historic 17th-century villa once owned by renowned author Stefan Zweig.
The initiative emerged after the current owner, automotive billionaire Wolfgang Porsche, unexpectedly placed the property up for sale, as reported by The Guardian.
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The sudden market listing followed public controversy surrounding Porsche's plans to construct a private tunnel.
The proposed 500-meter underground passage was intended to transport his extensive vehicle collection directly to the mansion.
Zweig, the prominent Austrian Jewish novelist whose literary works inspired the film The Grand Budapest Hotel, resided in the property until 1934.
The Austro-fascist regime subsequently drove him out of Salzburg, forcing his family to sell the estate at a severely depressed price.
During Zweig's lifetime, the residence was known as Villa Europa.
Beyond serving as his primary workspace, the estate functioned as a prominent cultural hub where elite intellectual figures like James Joyce, Thomas Mann, and Richard Strauss frequently gathered.
Porsche originally acquired the property in 2020 for €8.4m (£7.2m).
Following extensive renovations, he has placed the villa back on the market with an asking price of €12.7m (£11m).
Thousands of citizens, including composers, writers, and singers, have signed a formal petition directed at local and federal authorities.
The petition frames the acquisition of the estate as an essential preservation effort for future generations.
University of Salzburg Steps In
The University of Salzburg has expressed a strong desire to secure the site.
