Ausstellung "Ernst Wahliß ein Visionär"

Start: 2025-05-01T10:00:00.000+02:00
End: 2025-08-03T18:00:00.000+02:00

Gallery AccessibleART

Exhibition "Ernst Wahliß a Visionary"

Carl Ernst David Wahliß, porcelain wholesaler from Vienna, was one of the key figures who significantly shaped the summer holiday experience – now known as tourism – at Lake Wörthersee. In 1882, he acquired the hotel complex Seebad Maria Wörth in Pörtschach and expanded it into a large hotel complex with 14 villas, a restaurant, a bathing establishment, boat sheds, tennis courts, and parks.
In 1891, Wahliß also acquired Velden Castle and thus owned the largest hotel empire at Lake Wörthersee – also during the monarchy – which flourished until his death in 1900.
He brought many great artists to events at Lake Wörthersee – and even Emperor Franz Joseph had the establishment Wahliß personally shown to him by the owner in 1899.
In his role as a hotel operator, he applied the extensive experience of hoteliers and restaurateurs from Vienna, making him a pioneer in international standards for summer holidays at Lake Wörthersee. It is no wonder that he was also titled "Moses of Lake Wörthersee".

On the occasion of the anniversary of Ernst Wahliß's death in 1900, the Pörtschach Archive – together with Mr. Harald Distelberger, a Wahliß expert, and the archive of the market community of Velden – is planning an exhibition about the work of the porcelain industrialist and tourism pioneer at Lake Wörthersee.

The exhibition will be from April 30 to August 3, 2025 at the Gallery AccessibleART – in the listed train station of Pörtschach. The exhibition will showcase many exhibits from the establishment Wahliß: Wahliß tableware, documents, plans, posters, many postcards, and photographs. In addition, there will be lectures, guided tours, and also a screening of the Wahliß film.

Contact / address

Bahnhofsgebäude, Galerie ZUGängliche Kunst
Bahnhofplatz 1
9210 Pörtschach am Wörthersee