Vienna Town Hall – how to get there and what to watch

City Town Hall can be found almost in any European city, and Vienna is no exception. Vienna Town Hall is one of the centers of public life citizens, a venue for the mayor’s office and the city parliament and an interesting landmark.

The most interesting thing is that any tourist can go inside the excursion or just so, see the interior of the building and all this for free. Also near the town hall of Vienna are arranged festivals, concerts and other events. About everything in order.

Unfortunately, at the time of the latest update of this article (autumn 2019), the reconstruction of the building began, all it is shut-off with construction forests. And for a long time – until 2024.

The first thing to pay attention is the appearance of the building. It seems that the building is already several hundred years, especially when it darkens, and the backlight is not yet included (in the photo on the right). In fact, it was built in 1883.

Town Hall is made in a neo-style style, so it makes it impression. In a classic Gothic style, for example, a Cathedral of St. Stephen was built, and the Vienna Town Hall features softer and more rounded forms.

In the Vienna Town Hall, you can find several architectural styles. The courtyards of the building are made in the Baroque style, following the example of palaces, for example, the famous Belvedere.

In 1865, the city wall was demolished in Vienna, and an urban ring road was formed, along which the construction of new buildings began. This is a ring and now is an interesting tourist route, it is called "Ring". If you go through it, you can see in addition to the building of the Vienna State Opera, Parliament, University of Vienna, the federal theater and many other attractions.

In 1868, it was decided to build the building of the New Town Hall of Vienna, since the old was too little for the growing city. For a long time, she was called Neues Rathaus, which is translated as a "New Town Hall" in order not to be confused with the old. This name is sometimes used now.

Most of all attracts the main tower tower with a height of 103 meters. No photo will give impressions from her. More she amazes not even with dimensions, but with its architecture. She resembles gothic medieval cathedrals.

Thanks to her height, the Vienna Town Hall is clearly seen almost from anywhere in the city.

On the tower are the main hours of the city, as it should be on any Town Hall of Europe. And as on any similar building, a place is provided for installing a bell to alert citizens about important events. Bells there and now there, but notify nothing about.

At the very top there is a copper statue of a bannamers in medieval armor (in the photo on the left it is almost not visible), with which a very curious story is connected with.

Emperor Franz Joseph I (read the article by the history of Austria) allowed to build a tower of the new Town Hall tall only 98 meters. He wanted the building is not higher than nearby Church of Vivodkirhe. Friedrich Schmidt very much wanted to build the building above, and hoisted up this statue of 3.4 meters high.

No one at first noticed, and later the authorities had much more serious concerns. In addition, formally, the architect did not violate the ban of the emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, because the tower was indeed built with a height of 98 meters, as was ordered.

This banquensec is called Rathausmann (Rathausmann) is so famous that his little gilded copy is used in Austria as a state award.

The total height of the statue 5.4 meters, if you consider together with the flag, and the weight is 1.8 tons. Our country also has introduced a small contribution to this work of art, as copper has been paid and coins of the chasing of the Russian Empire. You can say literally: "Rathausmann in Vienna is made of Russian money".

Its reduced copy (in the photo on the right) stands in the yard, and in order to see it, you do not need to possess "eagle vision" or buy binoculars.

In addition to this statue, on the square in front of the town hall and in the park you can find even more than ten statues of political figures and famous Austrians. From our known personalities, it can be noted, except, "King Waltz" composer Ihan Strauss.

On the square in front of the town hall, different mass events are arranged. Perhaps the most interesting one is the Christmas Fair. If you are lucky enough to visit Vienna for Christmas, do not miss this opportunity. Here you can buy Austrian gifts for every taste, it is delicious to eat, and you look at the largest Christmas tree in Austria.

From January to March on the square, the skating rink function, at the end of April or beginning of May, the "race of the world" is held, and in July and August there is a huge screen here and arrange the open-air cinema, naturally free.

At the time of our visit, Vienna was Jul, in the Orangers of the Palace, Shörnbrunn ripened oranges, and before the Vienna Ratchet showed a record of the Opera about the foundation and development of the Swedish company "IKEA".

What it looks like, you can look at the photo on the left. Make good photos was not as easy as it may seem, since there were many people on the square. Do not think that the Austrians come to watch movies only because they are free, just this interesting pastime and the opportunity to talk.

Hollywood blockbusters do not show here, the film festival program is exceptionally cultured. A small gallery photo from this show can be found below.

It is a pity that all ideas are broadcast in German, and only in some of them there are English subtitles.

In addition, there are concerts and other "disposable events" near the Town Hall. You can learn about all upcoming events from large banners that hang on the facade of the building. By the way, many crowns are very unhappy with these posters, they believe that the signs spoil the type of building.

Especially the building of the Vienna Town Hall beautifully at night when the backlight is turned on (photo on the right). If you have the opportunity to come here in the evening, then do it and you will not regret.

It is better to schedule your visit to the inside of the building on Monday, Wednesday or Friday by 13-00. At this time, excursions are arranged, by the way, too, free.

Excursions are carried out only in German, but even if you do not know this language, it is still better to go inside with an organized group. You will spend on the most interesting places, and you do not get lost.

Among these places in the building: "Hall of two coats", "Stone halls", "Hall of celebrations", "Hall of the parliament meeting", a large staircase and an observation deck. In detail in this article, we will not describe them, this is the topic of a separate page of our site, follow the announcements.

If you know English, you can use computers with touch screens that are installed in the building. They will tell you about everything interesting inside.

Not all rooms and halls of the buildings are open to visitors. Do not forget that this is the place of work of the mayor and the entire city administration. Many halls that are usually open can be temporarily unavailable due to important activities. The entrance to the building of the Vienna Town Hall closes at 21-00, but even after that time you can walk there (they will drive you at 23-00).

As we said, the town hall shows almost from any place of the city. Below is a small gallery of the Town Hall of Vienna from different points in the city.

In many cities of Austria, the Town Hall not only are centers of public life, but also open to visit tourists. For example, we already wrote about the town hall of the city of Klagenfurt in the article about the sights of this city. The Vienna is the largest in size and one of the most interesting.

Working hours: Area around the clock, building from 9-00 to 21-00.

Input price: is free.

How to get: To get to the metro Vienna station to Rathaus (Rathaus) on the line U2 (purple). You will notice the townole immediately after exiting the station.

Metro map in Russian Look in our article "Metro Vienna".

Useful advice

– In winter, near the Town Hall, you can skate. Entrance to the rink and renting skates will cost 15 euros per person;

– In addition to the Christmas Fair, on the square at the Town Hall, the New Year’s fireworks, events and fairs are held on other holidays. Festive days schedule, see our article "Holidays in Austria";

– In order not to make a mistake with the weather, read our article "Weather in Vienna for months".

Read the other articles about Austria and its capital Vienna (Links below).