Large Salon
"… he [i.e. Franz Joseph] liked dallying in these small drawing rooms when he was visited by his family, his brother, his grandchildren, nephews etc. There in their company he would take a cup of tea at the twilight hour, chatting with them, and above all, enquiring after their wishes…"
Thus the account in Viribus Unitis. However, it seems that Franz Joseph did not have such an open ear where his son was concerned. The two men had very different political opinions. Crown Prince Rudolf wanted to establish a federal republic, a view that is clearly expressed in the Kronprinzenwerk, a popular encyclopaedia in 24 volumes, some of which are displayed on the bookshelves in this room. Rudolf put an end to his problems by committing suicide at Mayerling in 1889.
