The palais was built at the beginning of the 18th century, presumably in place of the former summer residence of the papal nunciature. The Baroque architecture, especially the garden façade, is a jewel of Baroque architecture in Graz. The construction is ascribed to the well-known Graz architect Andreas Stengg (other works of A. Stengg include the basilica of Mariatrost in Graz and parts of the Baroque architecture of Mariazell in Upper Styria). The palais was owned by the counts of Stubenberg and, after 1772, the counts of Wurmbrandt-Stuppach. The ample park of the palais once extended west until what today is Geidorf square. In 1801 the palais was purchased by Johann Meerschein who established a restaurant/café. When the city of Graz grew out of its old city limits at the end of the 19th century, the park was subdivided into building grounds. Large parts of the former park are thus occupied by typical Gründerzeit (Founder Epoch) residential buildings and their ample back gardens in the area between Geidorfplatz and Mozartgasse. Since 1914 the palais is a property of the University of Graz.