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Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Wolfgang Porsche is the chairman of the Porsche board and grandson of founder Ferdinand Porsche. He’s currently causing controversy among the residents of Salzburg in Austria. The millionaire has proposed constructing a 1,640-foot-long private underground tunnel beneath the mountain where one of his 17th-century villas is located.
What makes this proposal particularly striking is the reason behind it. Wolfgang Porsche wants to avoid a short stretch of road that winds along the side of the Kapuzinerberg mountain, connecting his villa to the city’s urban center.
A millionaire newcomer. According to the German newspaper DerStandard, Wolfgang Porsche purchased the Paschinger-Schlössl villa in 2020 for around $8.8 million. The villa isn’t even his main residence and is currently renovating it. The mansion is situated on the slope of the wooded Kapuzinerberg mountain, one of Salzburg’s green lungs. It previously belonged to Austrian writer Stefan Zweig.
A “complicated” access road. As is often the case with houses built on mountains, the narrow, single-lane road leading to the site winds along the mountainside, covering a slope of around 164 feet.
Funnily enough, Wolfgang Porsche, the chairman of one of Germany’s largest supercar manufacturers, is uncomfortable navigating the short stretch of mountain road to his residence. According to local media, the narrow access road, which passes through a 16th-century wall, is prone to collapsing due to the challenging conditions. This can become particularly dangerous during the winter months.
Much more than a mere tunnel. German outlet Spiegel reports that Wolfgang Porsche believes an underground tunnel beneath his mansion would better preserve the landscape’s aesthetic. This project would connect a private parking area for nine cars, intended to be built next to the villa, with a public parking lot located at the base of the mountain.
The bureaucratic processes for executing this project are already well advanced. In fact, the millionaire has reportedly paid around $42,000 for access rights to the existing urban parking lot.
A privilege reserved for the wealthy. Salzburg’s Bürgerliste green party has raised concerns about the modest entrance fee paid by Wolfgang Porsche. Although the exact value of his personal fortune isn’t publicly disclosed, the Porsche/Piëch family’s wealth is estimated to amount to around $38.8 billion.
However, beyond protests regarding the perceived privilege of the new neighbor, there are no legal objections. According to Salzburg’s Kellerrecht, or “cellar rights,” Wolfgang Porsche’s property extends to the land, the villa built on it, and everything below the mansion.
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