Mariahilfer Strasse

Mariahilfer Strasse is Vienna’s largest and most well-known retail boulevard.It connects the city center to the Westbahnhof and the Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus region.

The roadway is divided into two sections: inner and outer Mariahilfer Strasse.These unofficial names are still used colloquially, but they are also used by the media, in traffic alerts, and on subway station entry signs to differentiate between portions inside and outside the belt.However, Mariahilfer Strasse is sometimes used as a synonym for the shopping strip within the belt.

The Gurtel and Europaplatz cut across Mariahilfer Strasse.The road is 3.7 kilometers long.

Inner Mariahilfer Strasse

The inner Mariahilfer Straße is 1.8 kilometers long and runs from the Getreidemarkt or the Museumsplatz to the Mariahilfer Gurtel, where it climbs somewhat steeply in the first short segment.Mariahilfer Strasse has marked the boundary between the 6th district (Mariahilf) and the 7th district (Neubau) since the incorporation of the suburbs in 1850 and the split of the old 4th district into the modern districts 4 and 5 in 1861.Babenbergerstraße is its northeast extension.

Outer Mariahilfer Strasse

This 1.9 km long section runs from the Mariahilfer Gurtel in the 15th district to Schlossallee in the west of the city; the last 350 meters of the street are in front of the technical museum in the 14th district, Penzing, and southwards next to the street is the Auer-Welsbach-Park in the 15th district.Penzinger Straße is the street’s western extension.Although there are several businesses on the outer Mariahilfer Strasse, hardly no significant or worldwide brand stores have established themselves in this area.The tram operates in this neighborhood as well, although it has been superseded by the subway in the inner Mariahilfer Straße.

Traffic

During the early 1870s, Siegfried Marcus, a mechanic, conducted driving tests with the first-ever petrol-powered road car in his workshop located at Mariahilfer Strasse 104. It is important to note that this car should not be confused with the 20-year-old car exhibited in the Technical Museum.

In 1869, a horse-drawn tramway was constructed along Mariahilfer Strasse, connecting Stiftgasse and Rudolfsheim.The tram network underwent electrification starting in 1897.The frequent usage of Mariahilfer Strasse by Emperor Franz Joseph during his travels between Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace presented significant challenges for the tram operators.In order to maintain the visual aesthetics of the street, the emperor mandated the use of an underground conductor rail system to supply electricity to the tramway lines operating in the area, as opposed to an overhead line which would have been visually obstructive. However, this system was prone to faults.The implementation of the conventional overhead line in this location did not occur until 1915.

Initially, numerous lines comprising 50 lines and lines marked with alphabets were operational along the entire stretch or specific sections of Mariahilfer Strasse.Tram lines 52 and 58 were operational along the entire length of Mariahilfer Strasse until the inner section was closed in 1993.The Technical Museum is the only location where they diverge towards the west.Lines 52 and 58 continued to operate on the outer Mariahilfer Strasse, which is not directly accessible from the U-Bahn. However, their terminus was relocated to the Gurtel, situated in front of Vienna’s Westbahnhof.As of September 2, 2017, the discontinuation of line 58 resulted in the extension of line 60 to include its former section on the outer Mariahilfer Straße. Line 60 now operates from Westbahnhof to Rodaun.

The implementation of the U3 subway line construction has resulted in significant disturbances along the inner Mariahilfer Strasse.The tram tracks and lanes had to be repeatedly relocated to accommodate car traffic.Due to spatial constraints, the subway tunnel tubes were constructed vertically rather than horizontally, deviating from the conventional approach.

Prior to the opening of the subway, the surface design of the inner Mariahilfer Strasse was expedited through the cessation of tram service within the belt. In lieu of trams, city buses were utilized as rail replacement services along side streets, some of which were narrow.

In this particular area, Mariahilfer Strasse was equipped with sidewalks measuring approximately ten meters in width on either side, and adorned with trees to create an avenue-like atmosphere.There was significant criticism regarding the absence of cycle paths to accommodate the current high volume of bicycle traffic. It was only after several years that a cycle lane was eventually constructed for a particular section.The cessation of tram lines has led to a decline in the quality of transportation in the vicinity of Mariahilfer Straße. This is due to the lengthy access routes to the subway, limited station coverage along the street, and the requirement for a transfer at Westbahnhof from the outer areas.

In order to facilitate Christmas shopping, the inner Mariahilfer Strasse has been designated as a pedestrian zone on the four Saturdays leading up to Advent.Prior to the May 2014 redesign, the area experienced significant traffic congestion resulting in frequent traffic jams throughout the day.

In the course of redesigning Mariahilfer Strasse between May 2014 and July 2015, the City of Vienna implemented traffic calming measures:

  • Pedestrian zone: The pedestrian zone , which is divided into two sections due to the interruption by Amerlingstrasse – Kirchengasse to Neubaugasse and Neubaugasse to Andreasgasse – covers a total of 432 meters and forms the core area of ​​the redesigned Mariahilfer Strasse.
  • Meeting zone: The pedestrian zone merges into a meeting zone that is 1,234 meters long towards the city center (Kirchengasse to Getreidemarkt, 739 meters) and out of town (Andreasgasse to Kaiserstrasse, 495 meters ) . Loading zones, parking spaces for the disabled and taxi ranks have been set up in the meeting zone.

Shops and retail

The Mariahilfer Straße, located in the inner city, served as the primary shopping district during the kuk monarchy and continues to be a significant retail destination in Austria.Mariahilfer Strasse has contributed significantly to the retail history of Vienna by introducing the first shopping center, the Generali Center, in 1968, which continues to operate successfully to this day.At present, there exist two shopping centers along the street, namely Gerngross and Generali Center. Based on a 2009 survey, Mariahilfer Strasse boasts a retail sales area of 178,000 square meters, which is comparable only to the retail space in the center of Vienna. Notably, Mariahilfer Strasse stands out as a more compact retail destination than the latter.If one considers the “Golden U” (Kärntner Strasse, Stephansplatz/Stock-im-Eisen-Platz, Graben, Kohlmarkt) as the primary shopping district in the city, it can be observed that Mariahilfer Strasse is over three times larger than the second-ranked area, Donauzentrum/Kagran.Upon initial examination, it may be unexpected to observe a rise in commercial space (10.8% since 2004) and retail space (13% since 2004), given that the street appeared to be at maximum occupancy as early as 2004.The growth of space was made possible by the optimization of large areas, specifically in P&C and Leiner, as well as the utilization of space resources situated in the secondary location.

At present, the vacancy rate stands at 1.7%, indicating complete occupancy, as there is a continuous process of renovation and expansion of the available space (with a proportion of up to 2%).The significant prevalence of the clothing line is readily apparent.This assortment has been allocated 40% of the areas.Numerous prominent international chain stores have established their expansive flagship stores on Mariahilfer Strasse, including but not limited to H&M, P&C, C&A, and Benetton.This observation is also evident in the analysis of the mean store size.The shops offer a generous area of 287 m², surpassing even the Donauzentrum area in terms of size. They are more than twice the size of the average shop found in Vienna’s shopping streets.

Mariahilfer Strasse is renowned as a shopping street mainly due to the presence of several department stores, despite the diverse range of shops available.

Passages

The Schulhofpassage, located in the 6th district, is a publicly accessible passageway that traverses multiple inner courtyards. It serves as a connector between Hirschengasse, which terminates at Schmalzhofgasse, and the building situated at Mariahilfer Straße 101. The backyards of the historical townhouse, which are accessible through the passage, were formerly occupied by printers and manufacturers that significantly contributed to the urban landscape of Mariahilf during the early 1900s. Some of these establishments continue to operate to this day. The series of courtyards has been accessible to the general public since 1914. B. These premises are commonly used by architectural firms, recording studios, as well as telecommunications and IT companies. The residence located at the opposite end of the passage, situated in Windmühlgasse, was constructed in 1863, albeit with an adapted facade.

The Raimundhof is a thoroughfare situated in the 6th district, consisting of five houses and four inner courtyards. It serves as a connector between Stiegengasse, culminating in Windmühlgasse, and Mariahilfer Straße. Within the passage, one may encounter various small-scale shoe manufacturers, hair salons, dining establishments, as well as corporate offices and drinking establishments.The Raimundhof derives its name from Ferdinand Raimund, a renowned writer who was born in 1790 at the residence known as “Zum goldenen Hirschen” located at Mariahilfer Straße 45. This building still stands to this day. Following Raimund’s passing, a commemorative plaque was affixed to the dwelling, which has since undergone renovation.

Structures

  • Rahlstiege (between no. 1a and 1b)
    The Rahlstiege facilitates vertical movement over a distance of approximately 6.5 meters, connecting Mariahilfer Strasse and Rahlgasse in the 6th district.The Goose Girl Fountain was constructed by Anton Paul Wagner in 1886 and is located at the summit of the staircase.During a renovation in 1933, the Rahlstiege’s previously enclosed substructure was repurposed into storage rooms.The renovation of the staircase took place between 1985 and 1986.
  • Hofstallungen (Museum Quarter) (No. 2)
    The Hofstallgebäude was constructed in 1725 under the direction of Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach.Since 1921, the area has functioned as a “fair palace” for exhibitions. However, since 2001, it has been repurposed to house the Vienna MuseumsQuartier.The Jungle Vienna Theater and the ZOOM Children’s Museum are situated in the Mariahilfer Strasse section.Located in the vicinity of the court stables is a statue of Johannes Nepomuk that is protected as a monument.
  • Stiftskaserne (Nr. 22-24)
    The origin of the Stiftskaserne dates back to 1663 when Johann Konrad Richthausen von Chaos made a charitable donation for the welfare of foundlings and orphans.The edifice underwent reconstruction during the 18th century and has since been utilized for military endeavors.Today, notable institutions present include the National Defense Academy, the Austrian Military Library, and the Command and various components of the Command Support Center.The Flak Tower located in the vicinity of the Stiftskaserne has been established as an emergency bunker for the Austrian head of state. Additionally, the Stiftskaserne is linked to the Hofburg through a covert tunnel.Authorized personnel may access the Stiftskaserne underground via U-Bahn line 3 in the event of a crisis. The U3 operating track terminates beneath the courtyard of the Kaserne, with an exit that provides access to the north wing.
  • Collegiate Church (at No. 24)
    The official name of the Collegiate Church located on Mariahilfer Strasse is the Vienna Military Garrison Church of the Holy Cross, although this fact may not be widely recognized.The structure was constructed in the year 1739 and is believed to have been designed by Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach.From 1785 to 1799, the site served as a military depot.The church has been serving as a garrison church again since 1921.
  • Mariahilfer Church (between no. 55 and 57)
    The Mariahilfer Church was constructed in 1656 and subsequently consecrated in 1660.In 1715, the structure underwent a redesign, which included the addition of a new facade and the construction of the current towers.On August 14, 1689, Cardinal Leopold Karl von Kollonitsch, accompanied by the imperial family and approximately 30,000 devotees, transported the miraculous image of Mariahilf to the church.The Mariahilfer Church, Mariahilfer Strasse, and the 6th Mariahilf district derive their names from the picture.
  • Toilet facility (near No. 75)
    Located at the intersection of Amerlingstraße, there exists an underground toilet facility that has been designated as a listed building.The lavatory was constructed in 1913 by Wilhelm Beetz, an entrepreneur who had obtained a patent for low-odor restroom facilities through an agreement with the municipality of Vienna.The Art Nouveau style is evident in the design of the entrance area and the wood paneling featuring inserted glass windows.The inner Mariahilfer Straße benefits from ample access to sanitary facilities, including those conveniently located within the underground stations.
  • Generali Center (No. 77)
    The Generali Center was constructed in 1973 by Generali Lebensversicherung as a commercial property featuring office and retail spaces.The house underwent a significant redesign in 1990 under the direction of architect Heinz Neumann.The current establishment comprises of 24 retail shops spanning across an area of 4,100 square meters, in addition to 7,500 square meters of office space.
  • Hofmobiliendepot (No. 88 and Andreasgasse 7)
    Established in 1747 by Maria Theresia, the Hofmobiliendepot initially served as a furniture depot and has now evolved into one of the world’s largest furniture museums.The Federal Real Estate Administration can be accessed through the entrance located at Mariahilfer Strasse 88, while the museum is situated at Andreasgasse 7.
  • Westbahnhof (near No. 130)
    The Westbahnhof located at Europaplatz serves as the final destination of the Austrian Western Railway.Despite its location not being directly on Mariahilfer Strasse, the building is considered to be part of the street’s architecture.The extant edifice, which is a listed structure, was inaugurated in 1951 and underwent refurbishment between 2008 and 2011.The train station was voted as the most beautiful in Austria for the years 2012 and 2013.
  • Schwendermarkt (opposite no. 190-192)
    In 1833, the municipality of Braunhirschen was granted permission to establish a daily Viktualienmarkt, which subsequently emerged as a prominent market hub for the region.Mariahilfer Straße has undergone several reconstructions and redesigns over the course of its regulation, with the most recent one taking place in 2002.The term “Schwendermarkt” is derived from “Schwendergasse,” which is named after the notable entrepreneur Carl Schwender (1809-1866).Schwender established a series of businesses including a coffee house, a summer restaurant, a beer hall, and ultimately the expansive entertainment venue known as Schwenders Kolosseum in Braunhirschen.
  • Tram depot Rudolfsheim (Schwendergasse 53-55 and Zollernsperggasse 1)
    The three Wiener Linien vehicle depots on both sides of Mariahilfer Strasse at the intersection of Linzer Strasse are all that remains of what was once the most large tram depot in Vienna, stretching as far as Sixhauser Strasse.Halls 1 and 2 are designated as historic sites.They have a basilical cross-section, exposed brick façade, and an open roof structure of trusses with iron supports and tie rods.The western hall was erected in 1901/02 (on the foundations of an older horse-drawn carriage depot), and the eastern hall in 1902/03.
  • Technical Museum (No. 212)
    The Technical Museum first opened its doors in 1918 and, following several years of renovation and conversion work, now provides visitors with a glimpse into the world of technology.The museum was one of Austria’s first representative reinforced concrete structures, although it was constructed with a traditional façade in keeping with modern tastes.
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