When most people visit Schloss Hof, they’re drawn to the palace’s grandeur and gardens, but the real engine of the estate was always the Meierhof-the massive Baroque farm complex tucked just behind the main building. Imagine it as an 18th-century “backstage area” where all the practical magic happened. Here, blacksmiths, potters, and basket weavers kept the estate running, producing everything from horseshoes to kitchenware. Many of these traditional workshops have been revived, so visitors can watch craftspeople at work, keeping centuries-old skills alive.

One of the estate’s cleverest features is its orangeries, which used a pioneering underground hot-air system to grow citrus fruits year-round-a sort of Baroque greenhouse innovation. The stables were home to rare horse breeds, and you’ll still see unusual animals like white donkeys wandering the grounds today.

Schloss Hof’s Meierhof wasn’t just about agriculture; it adapted with the times. During World War I, it even hosted the Austro-Hungarian Naval Academy, and later, it was requisitioned by military forces. Today, the Meierhof is a lively, hands-on museum, offering a glimpse into the estate’s industrious past-a reminder that behind every grand palace, there’s always a hard-working, innovative side making it all possible.