When the magnificent Vienna’s Ringstraße (ring road), built on the former glacis, was under construction, numerous residential palais’ were also erected, along with spacious parks and public buildings. According to the motto: “For the Emperor the Imperial Palace, for the nobles baroque inner-city palaces.” These splendid edifices evolved throughout history, reflecting the changes in taste, style and society. Our Palais at Parkring 14 was commissioned by the industrialist Hugo Henckel von Donnersmarck as a present to his second wife Laura, née Duchess Kaszongi, in 1871/72. Tracing back their family roots, the Donnersmarcks used to deal with fresh produce and vegetables from their estate in Northern Slovakia, which they traditionally sold on Thursdays (Donnerstag) at farmers’ markets. This historic buidling, now reborn in the heart of the city as Donnersmarkt Restaurant.