The Esplanade in Bad Ischl painted by Rudolf von Alt, 1840
Humans have lived in the Bad Ischl area since the time of the pre-historicHallstatt culture; documentary evidence of the settlement dates from a 1262 deed, it which it appears asIselen. In 1419 ArchdukeAlbert V of Austria established the local seat of the Salt Chamber (Salzkammer [de]) atWildenstein Castle, and Ischl was granted the privileges of amarket town in 1466 byEmperor Frederick III. A firstsalt mine was opened in 1563, asalt evaporation pond (German:Saline) followed in 1571.
On 19 August 1853 the engagement between Franz Joseph andElisabeth of Bavaria (Sisi) took place at theSeeauerhaus, Esplanade No. 10, which since 1989 has been the location of theMuseum der Stadt Bad Ischl.
In 1854, the Emperor's mother,Archduchess Sophie, gave him theKaiservilla (Imperial Villa) as a wedding present. The villa became the imperial family's summer residence; Franz Joseph described it as "Heaven on Earth".[3] The Emperor granted to his mistressKatharina Schratt a nearby mansion, easily reached via a hidden footpath. In theKaiservilla on 28 July 1914 Franz Joseph signedAustria-Hungary's declaration of war against theKingdom of Serbia, signalling the start of hostilities inWorld War I. He left Bad Ischl on the following day and never returned. TheHabsburg-Lorraine family still own the villa, although the grounds and parts of the residence are now open to the public.
In the aftermath of the 1945 defeat ofNazi Germany inWorld War II, Bad Ischl became the location of adisplaced persons (DP) camp for survivors ofthe Holocaust and ofNazi concentration camps in Eastern Europe. The residentdisplaced persons were primarily Jews from Poland and other neighboring countries. They received lodging, food, medical care and administrative assistance until able to make other, more permanent arrangements. Many left for the United States, Israel or Canada. The Bad Ischl DP camp remained active from 1945 until 1952.
Besides theKaiservilla, the city offers several health spas and tourist attractions, like the historicKongresshaus opened in 1875, the newKurhaus built byClemens Holzmeister in 1932, as well as theLehár Villa, the former residence ofFranz Lehár, that he acquired in 1912 and today serves as a museum. TheSaint Nicholas parish church was first mentioned in a 1344 deed.
Bad Ischl is also known for theKonditorei Zauner pastry shop, formerk.u.k.purveyor established in 1832, and the smallLehártheater built in 1827.
Agondola lift runs from the town up to theKatrin alpine pasture at 1415 m (4643 ft), which offers a panoramic view of the Salzkammergut mountains. The ruins ofWildenstein Castle, which burnt down in 1715, are nearby.
