Palais Palffy was firstly mentioned in a document of the 14^th century in which Count Maitburg is stated as the palace’s owner during the years 1357 and 1372. More than a century later, in 1474, the „Lower Austria Canzeley“ was moved from the Dorotheergasse into this mansion.

In about 1500 the Palais belonged to a well-renowned Europe-traveller,  called Siegmund of Herberstein, and was passed on into Prince Kinsky’s possession in 1547 .  At the end of the 16th century, though, Rudolf Kuhen of Belasy, baron of Lambach decided to have the old building pulled down and arranged to have another palace built instead. This time it was going to be built in Renaissance style and Rudolf Kuhen of Belasy even enlarged the original building by including the two adjacent properties, as well as including a part of Count Salm’s house, whose only daughter was married to Paul Count Palffy of Erdöd. After their daughter’s death, the mansion went into the possession of the Palffy family.

It was ever since the 16^th October 1762 that the palace gained cultural recognition and importance for being the palace where Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart gave a concert with his sister “Nannerl“ at the early age of six years and where his opera “The Marriage of Figaro“ was performed for the very first time (in the so-called Figaro Hall).

In the second part of the 19^th century the palace was refurbished, however under the maintenance of the historical facade .

Although the Second World War also left its traces on this venerable edifice, the wounds have already healed, and the palace has once again become one of the most shiny of the Vienna town mansions.

Today, the Palais Palffy, as a typical Austrian building, is the residence of the Austrian Cultural Centre and as such it is now the centre of considerable cultural and sociable events, such as the Imperial Concerts.

But also other cultural and ingenious active institutions have found under his roof a home place.