{"id":267,"date":"2015-08-20T13:21:20","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T11:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/?p=267"},"modified":"2025-12-30T21:17:37","modified_gmt":"2025-12-30T20:17:37","slug":"rathaus-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathaus-2\/","title":{"rendered":"The Rathaus"},"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\/2015\/08\/rathaussmall.jpg\" alt=\"Distant view of the Rathaus\" class=\"wp-image-17184\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/rathaussmall.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/rathaussmall-100x100.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>One of the tallest and most impressive buildings in central Vienna is the Rathaus. The towers look down majestically onto a central square and park alongside Vienna&#8217;s mighty Ringstrassen boulevard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>19th-century neo-Gothic design<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Administrative headquarters of the city<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sneakily taller than it should be<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Looks particularly good on photos<\/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>* for Vienna<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>See also:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/rathaus\/\">Rathausplatz square<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sightseeing\/\">Vienna sights<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/tours-historical-buildings\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"58561\">Tours of historical buildings<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">City hall<\/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 Rathaus on a remarkably quiet day)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All those who meet German for the first time enjoy the thought of government offices being called rat houses. For the record, <em>Rat<\/em> means &#8220;advice,&#8221; &#8220;counsel&#8221; or indeed &#8220;council,&#8221; while the German for rat is <em>Ratte<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Vienna&#8217;s Rathaus is the seat of the provincial and city government (Vienna is both a city and a province), housing hundreds of officials and notable institutions like the city library.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The building has over 1500 rooms and more than 2000 windows, which can be tough on the cleaning budget. Its long fa\u00e7ade often finds excellent use as a sight in its own right, for example as host for art installations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For a proper look around the insides, you have three main choices:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take the free public tour (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/verwaltung\/rathaus\/fuehrung\/fuss\/\">details here<\/a>), which is in German but with an English-language audio guide available<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Visit the free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/game-city\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"6214\">Game City event<\/a>, which takes place inside the building<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Or simply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/spezial\/virtuelle-rathaustour\/\">take a virtual tour<\/a><\/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\/01\/christmaschristkindlrathaus.jpg\" alt=\"Rathaus behind the lighted arch of the Christkindlmarkt\" class=\"wp-image-67065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/christmaschristkindlrathaus.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/christmaschristkindlrathaus-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 view at Christmas through the entrance arch of the Christkindlmarkt market)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/rathaus\/\">Rathausplatz<\/a> square out front is, perhaps, more important to the visitor than the Rathaus itself. This open area hosts various events throughout the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where you find, for example, Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/christmasmarkets\/rathausplatz\/\">Christkindlmarkt<\/a> Christmas market, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/wienliebe-festival\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"70484\">#wienliebe<\/a>, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/sport\/wiener-eistraum\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"833\">Vienna Eistraum<\/a> open-air ice skating or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/events\/rathaus-film-festival\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"538\">summer film festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathauspark\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"84216\">wooded park<\/a> that flanks that square has a few monuments and lots of benches to rest on. It also plays a special role in selected events. For example, it has its own lighted delights at Christmas that include a tree filled with glowing hearts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The history<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The Rathaus building opened in 1883 as part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/history-of-the-ringstrassen\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"68027\">huge swathe of construction<\/a> that followed the removal of the old city\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/city-walls\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"9943\">fortifications<\/a> (other contemporary projects included the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/ring\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1546\">giant boulevard<\/a> that marks one end of the Rathausplatz).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last stone fell into place on September 12th, coinciding with the 200th anniversary of the end of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/the-1683-siege-of-vienna\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"29264\">siege of Vienna<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Friedrich Schmidt (a resident architect at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/stefansdom\/\">St. Stephen&#8217;s Cathedral<\/a>) came up with the design. Reflecting the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/culture\/historicism\/\">historicism<\/a> prevalent at the time, Schmidt used a neo-Gothic approach that makes everything look older than it is.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rathausconstruction.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Vienna's Rathaus during construction\" class=\"wp-image-58051\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rathausconstruction.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rathausconstruction-300x209.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\">(Photograph of the Rathaus by an unknown photographer during construction around 1879; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 29013\/1; reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Opposite the Rathaus, on the other side of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/ring\/\">Ring<\/a>, is Vienna&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/entertainment\/theaters\/burgtheater\/\">Burgtheater<\/a> state theatre. To see the live view from the Burgtheater, take a peek at this <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wien.gv.at\/webcam\/burgtheater\/\">webcam<\/a>. Assuming there&#8217;s enough light, you&#8217;ll find the Rathausplatz in the foreground with the Rathaus behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also catch a view of the side of the Rathaus in a Hollywood movie: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/songsfilms\/woman-in-gold-locations\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"67389\">The Woman in Gold<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Rathausmann<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Schmidt was a decent architect, but also a cunning one. Consider the story of the Rathausmann, the name given to the armoured knight at the top of the Rathaus&#8217;s central tower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our friendly knight holds a long pole bearing the city flag. Without the statue, the Rathaus tower reaches just under 98m. With it, 103.3m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, let&#8217;s first go back to 1854.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"337\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rathausmann.jpg\" alt=\"The Rathausmann around 1882\" class=\"wp-image-58052\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rathausmann.jpg 337w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/rathausmann-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 337px) 100vw, 337px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-small-font-size\">The Rathausmann before installation and next to the metalworker who made it (Alexander Nehr), photographed by Josef L\u00f6wy around 1882; Wien Museum Inv.-Nr. 94680\/23; excerpt reproduced with permission under the terms of the CC0 licence)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emperor Franz Joseph was sampling some fresh air with one of his adjutants when a tailor named J\u00e1nos Lib\u00e9nyi tried to kill him, apparently as revenge for the executions that followed Hungary\u2019s failed 1848 revolution. (A fate then shared by Lib\u00e9nyi himself after wounding the Emperor.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In an act of gratitude for Franz Joseph\u2019s survival, thousands of his subjects donated money to build the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/votivkirche\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"27630\">Votivkirche<\/a>, a church completed in 1879 and located some 400m north of the Rathaus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allegedly, the Emperor decreed that no new secular building should exceed the height of this church, whose tallest towers reach 99m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which is why Schmidt capped the Rathaus tower at around 98m (good lad). And then popped the statue on top to get round the restriction (cheeky).<\/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\/2024\/01\/rathaus2023a.jpg\" alt=\"View up the front of the central tower of Vienna's Rathaus\" class=\"wp-image-67064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/rathaus2023a.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/rathaus2023a-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\">(View up the central tower)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With this little trick, Schmidt ensured &#8220;his&#8221; Rathaus became Vienna\u2019s second-tallest building after Stephansdom cathedral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How to get to the Rathaus<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To be honest, you&#8217;ll probably pass the building anyway as you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/transport\/walking-tour\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"50322\">walk around<\/a> the city centre. You can get great photos now as the fa\u00e7ade completed a 10+ year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/sights\/rathaus-renovations\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"26447\">cleaning and renovation process<\/a> in late 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need sustenance on that walk, one of my favourite caf\u00e9-patisseries happens to live nearby: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/eatingdrinking\/cafespubsbars\/sluka-konditorei\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"23006\">Conditorei Sluka<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Subway: The Rathaus has its own subway station on the opposite side to the park. Take the U2 line to the Rathaus station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tram\/bus: the 1, D and 71 trams drop by the Rathausplatz\/Burgtheater stop outside the Rathausplatz square. And the 2 calls in at the Rathaus stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Address: Friedrich-Schmidt-Platz 1, 1010 Vienna<\/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>One of the tallest and most impressive buildings in central Vienna is the Rathaus. The towers look down majestically onto a central square and park alongside Vienna&#8217;s mighty Ringstrassen boulevard. City hall (The Rathaus on a remarkably quiet day) All those who meet German for the first time enjoy the thought of government offices being [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17184,"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-267","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\/267","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=267"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":87800,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/267\/revisions\/87800"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=267"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=267"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.visitingvienna.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=267"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}