{"id":26447,"date":"2020-08-10T17:59:40","date_gmt":"2020-08-10T16:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=26447"},"modified":"2025-09-17T10:46:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T09:46:03","slug":"rathaus-renovations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathaus-renovations\/","title":{"rendered":"Rathaus fa\u00e7ade renovations"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/scaffolding.jpg\" alt=\"Scaffolding on the Rathaus\" class=\"wp-image-27628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/scaffolding.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/scaffolding-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>If you were approaching your 140th birthday, you&#8217;d need a face lift too. It just takes a little longer when you&#8217;re Vienna&#8217;s famous Rathaus (city hall).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Renovation finished after a 10+ years process<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>So great for photos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Book a 2-hr <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiqets.com\/en\/vienna-walking-tours-l205287\/?partner=visitingvienna&amp;tq_campaign=LG_WalkingTours\" rel=\"sponsored\">historical walking tour<\/a>* of the city<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathaus-2\/\">The Rathaus<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Restored splendour<\/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\/2024\/01\/rathaus2023.jpg\" alt=\"View of the Rathaus from the square outside\" class=\"wp-image-67063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/rathaus2023.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/rathaus2023-300x225.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 fa\u00e7ade in today&#8217;s pristine glory)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The restoration and renovation work on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathaus-2\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"267\">Rathaus<\/a> fa\u00e7ade began in 2012 and finished in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If that sounds like a long time, consider that the fa\u00e7ade covers around 40,000m<sup>2<\/sup> of historical surfaces and sculpted designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That number is equivalent to about 95 basketball courts, if basketball courts were covered in reliefs and statues acting as metaphors and allegories for 3-pointers, rebounds, and tactical awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Pity the poor window cleaners, too, since the building has 2035 windows.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/maintower.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/maintower.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/maintower-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\">(They used the scaffolding around the main tower for art installations; photo \u00a9 Stadt Wien PID\/Bernato)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;re now at the very end of the process: the entire fa\u00e7ade has emerged with a fresh gleam to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just to give you an example of the work involved, think about the 17 carved figures that grace the exterior of the huge central tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, the statues needed more than a quick blast with the leaf blower. We&#8217;re talking about valuable artefacts of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/history-of-the-ringstrassen\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"68027\">19th century construction boom<\/a> that saw such prestige projects as the Rathaus emerge from the remains of Vienna&#8217;s city fortifications.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"342\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rathausrenovations2023.jpg\" alt=\"The Rathaus in 2023 with its newly-cleaned fa\u00e7ade\" class=\"wp-image-64058\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rathausrenovations2023.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/rathausrenovations2023-300x205.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\">(Michael Ludwig (Vienna&#8217;s Mayor) and Kathrin Ga\u00e1l (Deputy Mayor and City Councilwoman for Housing) enjoying the formal completion of the renovations on the fa\u00e7ade in autumn 2023; press photo  \u00a9 C.Jobst\/PID)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Built from Savonni\u00e8res limestone, each figure is almost 3m high and weighs up to 1.8 tonnes. They provide both a decorative and representative role. So, for example, you have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Vindobona (the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/vindobona\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"32729\">Roman name for Vienna<\/a>) as the central figure at the front of the main tower, accompanied by two standard bearers (one for Vienna, one for the monarchy). The sculptor &#8211; Josef Fritsch &#8211; also created statues for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/theaters\/burgtheater\/\">Burgtheater<\/a> opposite the Rathaus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Twelve figures carrying heraldic crests representing various crown lands belonging to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/austria-hungary\/\">Austria-Hungary<\/a> (the name of the empire at the time of construction)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Two figures serving as allegories for strength and justice. Like Fritsch, sculptor Franz Gastell also contributed to other monumental buildings of the time. For example, he did two of the figures you can see on the parapet of Austria&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/parlament\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"262\">parliament building<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/maintowerfigures.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/maintowerfigures.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/maintowerfigures-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\">(Kathrin Ga\u00e1l reviews the work on the tower figures; press photo \u00a9 PID\/Markus Wache)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another challenge that tested the skills of the restorers were valuable reliefs located at the mezzanine level of the tower. These depict three particularly important Habsburg rulers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rudolf I: the first Habsburg to head up the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/holy-roman-empire\/\">Holy Roman Empire<\/a> and also the first Habsburg to include Vienna in his dominions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Franz Joseph: Emperor at the time the building went up, which explains why he gets a relief (you don&#8217;t bite the hand that feeds you). Though, to be fair, Franz Joseph was always one of the most important personalities in Habsburg history, as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/franz-joseph\/\">this article<\/a> explains<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rudolf IV: another influential Habsburg chap. He founded the University of Vienna, for example, in the 14th century<\/li>\n<\/ul>\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\/2024\/09\/rathausrenovationssteps.jpg\" alt=\"Stone steps undergoing renovations\" class=\"wp-image-75941\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rathausrenovationssteps.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/rathausrenovationssteps-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 final touches to a huge project: renovation of the outside steps)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortunately for visitors, all that remains of this mammoth renovation project is the outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tip: if you wish to see inside the Rathaus, the city <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/verwaltung\/rathaus\/fuehrung\/fuss\/\">offers free tours<\/a> (in German but with an English audioguide available). Or drop into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/game-city\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6214\">GAME CITY event<\/a> (also free).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div align=\"center\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/maps\/d\/u\/0\/embed?mid=1CvFy08QgKnm1x4rkMf89o2bjRoLw78on\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you were approaching your 140th birthday, you&#8217;d need a face lift too. It just takes a little longer when you&#8217;re Vienna&#8217;s famous Rathaus (city hall). Restored splendour (The fa\u00e7ade in today&#8217;s pristine glory) The restoration and renovation work on the Rathaus fa\u00e7ade began in 2012 and finished in 2023. If that sounds like a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27628,"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-26447","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\/26447","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=26447"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26447\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":85783,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26447\/revisions\/85783"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27628"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26447"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26447"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26447"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}