{"id":1337,"date":"2016-01-18T09:57:13","date_gmt":"2016-01-18T08:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=1337"},"modified":"2025-12-30T21:02:14","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T20:02:14","slug":"ringturm-ring-tower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/ringturm-ring-tower\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ringturm (ring tower)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ringturm.jpg\" alt=\"The Ringturm building\" class=\"wp-image-14635\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ringturm.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/ringturm-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Ring Tower (Ringturm) packs a few surprises for passers by. Although an office block, it also doubles as an exhibition space, weather indicator, and work of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Opened in 1955<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Home to the Wiener St\u00e4dtische insurance company<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fa\u00e7ade often covered in art or a light display<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a two-hour <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-walking-tours-l205287\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_WalkingTours\" rel=\"sponsored\">walking tour<\/a>* in Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmas-lights\/\">Where to see Christmas lights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/ringturm-ring-tower\/\">Ringturm exhibition<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/ring\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1546\">Around the Ringstra\u00dfe<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A building &amp; symbol<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ringturm.jpg\" alt=\"The Ringturm building\" class=\"wp-image-43510\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ringturm.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/ringturm-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(One of Vienna&#8217;s first tower buildings)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At 73m high, with the light mast reaching up another 20m, the Ringturm is the second-highest building in Vienna&#8217;s old town; the highest is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stefansdom\/\">Stephansdom<\/a> cathedral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This was the first office tower of its kind in Vienna, joining the skyline in 1955 after a two-year building period. The construction date explains the absence of pan pipe-wielding satyrs and similar motifs of imperial Vienna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Built on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/ring\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1546\">Ring boulevard<\/a> to house the new headquarters of the Wiener St\u00e4dtische insurance company (a job it continues to do), the Ringturm also played a symbolic role in the emergence of Vienna from the long shadow of WWII.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the 23-floor construction replaced one of the buildings destroyed by allied bombing. And 1955 was also the year Austria gained its independence from allied occupation.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ringturmart.jpg\" alt=\"Ringturm summer art installation\" class=\"wp-image-49155\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ringturmart.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/ringturmart-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Ringturm in summer 2022 with the installation by D\u00f3ra Maurer)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Equally, US skyscrapers (with all their economic and political symbolism) inspired the architectural approach; the insurance company CEO had spent time in US exile. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The building remains one of the few architectural highlights from that era that have managed to establish themselves among all the other stars of the historical cityscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the Ringturm and its insurance company owners offer more than just evidence of Austria&#8217;s post-war renaissance&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Art and architecture<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ringturmart1.jpg\" alt=\"Ringturm in summer 2023\" class=\"wp-image-61580\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ringturmart1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/ringturmart1-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(The Ringturm in summer 2023 with art by Vanja Bu\u0107an)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The entrance to the tower, for example, provides a home for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/architecture-exhibition-ringturm\/\">Architektur im Ringturm<\/a>: free exhibitions typically showcasing architecture from Austria and nearby central and eastern Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Every year also usually sees a few months with the building&#8217;s fa\u00e7ade covered with printed sheets to form a giant work of art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Artists of international distinction have contributed designs, including Gottfried Helnwein, Arnulf Rainer, Xenia Hausner, and Christian Ludwig Attersee.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ringturm2024.jpg\" alt=\"Tower art installation\" class=\"wp-image-75472\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ringturm2024.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/ringturm2024-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(Art in 2024 by Johanna Kandl; photo \u00a9 Stadt Wien \/ Christian Jobst)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Summer 2023, for example, saw Slovenian artist Vanja Bu\u0107an create an apparently idyllic seaside scene, but the background to <em>Wandernde Eisberge<\/em> (my translation: wandering icebergs) hinted at the climate emergency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, Austrian artist Johanna Kandl offered us a 4000m<sup>2<\/sup> collection of colourful storage objects labelled in different languages. The words represented intangible qualities like courage.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ringturm2025.jpg\" alt=\"Art fa\u00e7ade on an office block\" class=\"wp-image-84660\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ringturm2025.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/ringturm2025-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(An early morning shot of Marcin Maciejowski&#8217;s 2025 work)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And 2025 had Marcin Maciejowski&#8217;s <em>Verbindinde Geschichten<\/em> (my translation: connecting stories) turn the Ringturm fa\u00e7ade into a peek into a home library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Christmas decoration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>That same fa\u00e7ade turns into a mammoth Christmas tree in December, with falling snowflakes completing the display. It&#8217;s a traditional element in Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmas-lights\/\">Christmas lights<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the 2025 Advent period, for example, the lights went on each day from 6am to 8am and from 4pm to 11pm.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ringturmchristmas.jpg\" alt=\"Ringturm Christmas tree lights\" class=\"wp-image-47190\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ringturmchristmas.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/ringturmchristmas-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">(A relatively common sight during Advent)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh, and one more thing&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Weather indicator<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The light mast at the top of the Ringturm hooks up to Vienna&#8217;s main meteorological station. The display &#8211; featuring over 100 lights &#8211; changes colour and direction according to the prevailing weather forecast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, for example, descending red lights indicate it&#8217;s getting colder and blinking white lights are a snow\/ice warning. If the lights blink red, then take cover: a storm is on its way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Ringturm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The tower sits opposite the Schottenring station, which is on the U2 and U4 subway lines, the 1 or 31 tram lines, and bus line 3A. A short walk from the very centre will also get you there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An even shorter walk past the Ringturm away from the centre brings you to an arm of the Danube. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/donaukanal\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"34106\">Donaukanal<\/a> comes alive in summer with open-air bars and restaurants, and makes its own contribution to the Viennese art scene through the ever-changing street art along its banks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Schottenring 30, 1010 Vienna<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1cdiDmtpqnaekq1SajmhF_9rS0dkf7IOe\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ring Tower (Ringturm) packs a few surprises for passers by. Although an office block, it also doubles as an exhibition space, weather indicator, and work of art. A building &amp; symbol (One of Vienna&#8217;s first tower buildings) At 73m high, with the light mast reaching up another 20m, the Ringturm is the second-highest building [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14635,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1337","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sights","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1337"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87798,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337\/revisions\/87798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14635"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}