By Sara Corsellas Nadal
Vienna, April 18 (EFE).- A fortunate coincidence nearly two centuries ago led a young apprentice, Franz Sacher, to create what would become the world-famous chocolate cake Sachertorte.
Today, the Hotel Sacher, founded by his son and still family-owned, is celebrating 150 years as one of the few five-star hotels in the world to remain in private family hands.
According to legend, Franz Sacher invented the cake in 1832 while working as a 16-year-old apprentice in the kitchen of Prince Klemens von Metternich, one of the most powerful figures in the Habsburg Empire.
When the head chef fell ill on the day the prince requested a special dessert for distinguished guests, the young Sacher stepped in and created a chocolate cake that would later make pastry history.
“We were lucky that they allowed him to name the cake after himself,” Alexandra Winkler, the current owner of Hotel Sacher, told EFE.
The cake’s popularity steadily grew, and in 1876 Franz’s son, Eduard Sacher, opened Hotel Sacher in Vienna, near the future site of the Vienna State Opera, inaugurated 23 years later.
The Sachertorte soon became a centerpiece of the hotel’s offering, helping transform it into a landmark establishment, a success largely attributed to Anna Sacher, Eduard’s widow.
“She knew how to bring people from all over the world together, politicians, businesspeople, artists, aristocrats,” Winkler said, highlighting Anna Sacher’s leadership in an era when women rarely ran businesses.
Beyond managing the hotel for nearly four decades, Anna Sacher also encouraged women to make independent choices, even in areas such as fashion, Winkler noted.
Following Anna Sacher’s death and the hotel’s subsequent bankruptcy, the Gürtler and Siller families acquired the property and registered the “Original Sacher-Torte” brand.
The cake, a chocolate sponge layered with apricot jam and covered in chocolate glaze, remains made from a closely guarded recipe. Around 360,000 Sachertortes are sold each year.
In 1990, Elisabeth Gürtler took over management of the hotel, which passed to her children Alexandra and Georg in 2014.
Since 2025, the hotel has ranked 49th among the world’s 50 best hotels by a British specialized publisher, making it the only establishment from German-speaking countries on the list.
Tradition Meets Innovation
To mark its 150th anniversary, Hotel Sacher has launched a program blending tradition, art, and innovation.
“We live in a very ‘Instagrammable’ world,” Winkler said, explaining the decision to install a public art piece outside the hotel to engage visitors and passersby.
Two large sculptures shaped like “walking suitcases” by Austrian artist Erwin Wurm now stand at the entrance, symbolizing the “invisible baggage” people carry, their origins, experiences, and personal histories.
The modern installation contrasts with the hotel’s classical façade, reflecting a dialogue between tradition and modernity.
Digital Projects and a Global Celebration
The anniversary celebrations also include an animated digital series recounting the hotel’s history, a short film blending animation and live action, and a symbolic “world tour” inviting guests to share photos of the Sacher logo in locations around the globe.
Several publications will also mark the milestone, including a commemorative history book and a children’s mystery novel by author Thomas Brezina.
Looking to Future Generations
“Having a hotel like this is a big challenge because you don’t want to ruin what previous generations worked so hard to create,” Winkler said, describing the establishment as “part of the city’s DNA.”
Viewing themselves as custodians rather than owners, she emphasized the long-term responsibility. “We need to pass it on to our children with the same success with which we inherited it from our parents.” EFE
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