Josefstadt, Vienna

Officially, the Josefstadt district is the eighth administrative division of Vienna. Officially founded in 1850, the area in Vienna was nearby by One should be aware that the boundaries of it have changed lately. Based on the 2014 census figures, the town’s population is 24,279 people and the Josefstadt area is densely occupied and typified by a notable presence of both residential and commercial structures. With an area of 1.08 square kilometers (0.42 square miles), Josefstadt, the smallest neighborhood of Vienna, gets their name from Holy Roman Emperor Joseph I.

Together with areas of St. Ulrich and Alservorstadt, the district comprises former Vorstädte Josefstadt, Breitenfeld, Strozzigrund, and Alt-Lerchenfeld. Alser Straße defines the district’s north; Lerchenfelderstraße its south; Hernalsergürtel and Lerchenfeldergürtel define its west; Auerspergstraße and Landesgerichtsstraße define its east.

The Josefstadt district has changed and is today regarded as mostly middle-class residential neighborhood. Vienna’s several mayors as well as the past Austrian president have lived here. Because of its clos proximity to the University of Vienna, Josefstadt is a residential area that welcomes a sizable student population.

Following Neubau, Josefstadt became the second district director linked with the Green party after the municipal elections in 2005.

Josefstadt, 8th District of Vienna

Situated in the middle of Vienna, the Josefstadt district is a magical place combining modern features with historical appeal. The architectural styles of the area—Biedermeier, Neoclassical, Art Nouveau—reflect the growth and progress of the neighborhood over the years. Among the area’s notable landmarks are the Piaristenkirche, the Rathaus, City Hall, and the Theater in der Josefstadt. These buildings show churches in the Baroque and Gothic Revival styles.

While the Volkstheater is a popular venue for experimental and creative events, Vienna’s oldest ancient theater, the Josefstadt Theater offers a vast range of theatrical shows ranging from classical masterpieces to modern works. A cultural institution, Theater Akzent presents a wide spectrum of engaging productions from all across the world.

The Josefstadt art galleries and museums provide a window into the local cultural past. Especially remarkable is the Palais Lobkowitz as it boasts a large collection of magnificent artwork and ancient relics. While the Vienna Porcelain Museum at Augarten Palace emphasizes the great beauty and expert workmanship of Viennese porcelain, the Museum of Puppetry Arts offers interesting shows and interactive displays.

Traditional Viennese cafés and restaurants abound in the area as well; Café Hummel, Piaristenkeller, Gasthaus Pöschl, Lange Gasse, Josefstädter Straße, Lerchenfelder Straße, and the Rose Garden. Discovering the lush settings of the Volksgarten, Josefstadt Park, and Hernalser Park allows visitors to withdraw from the metropolitan surroundings.

With a wide range of events and celebrations like the Josefstadt Music Festival, the Josefstadt Wine Festival, and open-air film screenings, the Josefstadt area presents its active cultural scene. Located in a nearby area, the University of Vienna attracts students from all across the world and fosters an environment fit for intellectual development and erudition. Advanced research and cooperation are highly supported and encouraged by the Palais Strozzi Library and the Austrian Academy of Sciences.

With U-Bahn lines U2 and U6 providing easy access to the Josefstadt neighborhood and therefore enabling links to other parts of the city, the district has the benefits of a well established public transportation infrastructure. While bike-friendly infrastructure, including dedicated lanes and bike-sharing systems, encourages riding as an ecologically responsible and efficient mode of travel, tram lines and bus routes offer further ways of transit for investigating the surrounding area. Those who want flexible travel options are provided car-sharing programs.

Apart from its well-known sites, the district also features less-known gems reflecting Vienna’s varied and cosmopolitan character: the Josefinum Garden, Skulpturenpark Josefstadt, and Little Istanbul.

In essence, the Josefstadt region of Vienna appeals to both residents and tourists because of its unique mix of architectural, historical, and modern aspects.

Geography

Comprising an area of 1.08km2, the most compact district in Vienna is the Josefstadt one, right in the middle. Among Vienna’s total land area, it makes around 0.26 percent and is among the most densely inhabited regions in the city. Two canalized streams round the area, which lies between the Zweierlinie and the Vienna Belt. Originally split into inner districts by the Vienna Belt, the area was joined with neighboring suburbs around 1850.

Surrounded by two streams altered to have a straighter and regulated flow, the region is situated on an elevated level location in the Vienna Woods. Still, the district does not cover the streams given the Alserbach and Ottakringer Bach’s excavations. Particularly in the northern and southern parts of the area, the elevation levels show notable fluctuation.

With residential neighborhoods covering 70.34% of the area, the region mostly acts as a site for developing facilities and transit options. The remaining 14.4% goes for religious, public, and cultural organizations. Thanks to its constant attention, the district has the lowest numerical value among all the Vienna districts. Traffic zones occupy the most of the area—27.6%. At only 2% of the total area of the district, Josefstadt boasts the lowest percentage of green spaces among other districts.

Together with a small area of Sankt Ulrich, the district consists of former suburban communities such Altlerchenfeld, Breitenfeld, Josefstadt, and Strozzigrund. Formerly under the Alsergrund district, the southern part of Alservorstadt was added to its area in 1862. The northern half of Josefstädter Straße and the southeast portion of the district—which include important sites such the Piarist Church of Maria Treu and the Theater in der Josefstadt—are under administration by the district.

Officially, the district comprises Laudongasse, Josefstädter Straße, and Bennoplatz based on official statistics census divisions.

Demographics

Comprising an area of 1.08 km2, the most compact district in Vienna is the Josefstadt one right in the middle of the city. Among Vienna’s total land area, it makes around 0.26 percent and is among the most heavily built sections of the city. Two canalized streams round the area, which lies between the Zweierlinie and the Vienna Belt. Originally split into inner districts by the Vienna Belt, the area was joined with neighboring suburbs around 1850.

With residential neighborhoods covering 70.34% of the area, the region mostly acts as a site for developing facilities and transit options. The remaining 14.4% goes to religious, public, and cultural establishments. Due in great part to its commitment, the district has the lowest numerical value among all the Vienna districts. Traffic zones occupy most of the area—27.6%—as opposed. At about 2% of the total area of the district, Josefstadt boasts the lowest proportion of green spaces among the other districts.

Together with a small area of Sankt Ulrich, the district consists of former suburban communities such Altlerchenfeld, Breitenfeld, Josefstadt, and Strozzigrund. Alservorstadt’s southern section, originally under Alsergrund district administration, was added to its jurisdiction in 1862. The district covers the southeast portion of Josefstädter Straße as well as the northern part. Two well-known sites in this area are the Maria Treu Piarist Church and the Theater in der Josefstadt.

Officially, the district comprises Laudongasse, Josefstädter Straße, and Bennoplatz based on official statistics census divisions.

Economy

Tram lines 2, 5, and 33 as well as bus route 13A service the district area from the U6 metro station Josefstädter Straße at the Ottakring boundary to the U2 subway station Rathaus.

Akademikerhilfe operates the Pfeilgasse residences (Pfeilgasse 1a, 3a, and 4-6), the Josefstadt area’s student residence Hotel Korotan (Albertgasse 48), and the Neudeggergasse dormitory run by Akademikerhilfe. The Josefstadt area is home to several student residences.

Four publicly sponsored elementary schools, one cooperative secondary school, and three high schools situated in Feldgasse, Albertgasse, and Jodok-Fink-Platz correspondingly call Josefstadt home. Furthermore housed in Albertgasse is the Federal Educational Institute for Kindergarten Education. The Vienna Business School’s Hamerlingplatz Commercial Academy as well as the Commercial Academy and Commercial School of the Vienna Merchants’ Association call their home here. There is another Vienna Business School at Schönborngesse. In March 2018 the LIMAK Austrian Business School opened a second location in Linz on Strozzigasse.

Right now, the former main library on Laudongasse houses the offices of the music colleges. Following the opening of the new central library on Urban-Loritz-Platz, in the eighth district, it has been clear that neither the first nor the eighth districts of Vienna now have any libraries branches. Schmidgasse sits the Josefstadt adult education center. Renowned for both leisure and educational activities, the WienXtra-Spielebox is located at Albertgasse 35. Notably, it is the biggest play library Austria has. The same building houses The Institute for Leisure Education.

History

Established at the end of the 17th century, the Josefstadt area of Vienna boasts a rich historical past going back to the Middle Ages. Later, the area was combined with little areas of St. Ulrich and the southern Alservorstadt into Vienna as the 7th district, Josefstadt. While Altservorstadt’s southern section was included into the newly established district in 1862, the area was formally included as part of Vienna’s eighth district by official incorporation in 1850.

The zone has developed into a rich residential area that draws various municipal officials and politicians wishing to live there. The Greens won a relative majority in Vienna’s second district, sometimes known as the 8th, in the October 23, 2005 district elections. Since November 2010 Veronika Mickel-Göttfert has been leading the majority group, including the Josefstadt Citizens’ Forum and the Austrian People’s Party.

The building activities in the Josefstadt area were arranged in many eras. The efforts of the relieving army to stop the second Turkish siege of Vienna set off the first phase of growth in the late 17th century. Beginning between 1770 and 1780, the second phase consisted in the division of significant sections of vegetation. The population explosion in Vienna throughout the nineteenth century started the third phase and led to the spread of large tracts on the southern and western margins of the city.

Beginning with the destruction of the Josefstadt barracks and line wall, the fourth major building phase got underway at the start of the twentieth century Residential constructions from the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries define the region most of all. The area was mostly unscathed by the ravages of war given its great population density. Out of 1,130 buildings in Josefstadt, 75.4% of the buildings in 2011 were built before 1918, or 852 total.

Places of interest

Architecture

Places of interest in Josefstadt

Palais Auersperg, Auerspergstrasse 1, +43 1 40 107, info@auersperg.com. Built in the early 18th century, the palace grew later during Prince Adam von Auersperg’s possession in the late 18th century. Though subsequent designs are credited to Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt, Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach first developed the ideas. 1945 saw a conference of the Austrian resistance movement O5, or OE (Oesterreich), here. Historically, it has been the hub for music, drawing a lot of festivals and dances. At this site, a wide spectrum of events is now happening.
Palais Damian (Zum Stroblkopf), At Lange Gasse 53 sits Palais Damian, sometimes known as Zum Stroblkopf. There were several ownership changes in the palace, with each next owner adding their own architectural changes. Though the top level was later added, the main features were built in the early 18th century.
Palais Schönborn, The Palais Schönborn stands at Laudongasse 15–19. Built from 1706 to 1711, this enormous Baroque house followed Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt’s architectural designs. One finds the Museum of Folk Life and Art (Museum für Volkskunde) nearby.
Palais Strozzi, Palais Strozzi is located at Josefstädter Strasse 39. Originally including a lawn across Pfeilgasse, the palace was built in 1702. The 1996 restorations resulted in the discovery of ancient artworks from the period the construction of the structure was started.

Museums and galleries

Places of interest in Josefstadt

Wiener Schuhmuseum (Shoe Museum), The Wiener Schuhmuseum, situated at Florianigasse 66, may be reached by email gesundheit-natur@wkw.at or by phone +43 1 514 50-2354. From 16:00 to 19:00, on the second Tuesday of the month The entry cost for individuals is €3.50; for trainees, students, and elderly it is €3. Austria has one museum devoted to the history of shoemaking.
Österreichisches Museum für Volkskunde (The Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art), Laudongasse 15-19, +43-1-406 89 05, fax: +43 1 408 53 42, office@volkskundemuseum.at. Tu-Su 10:00-17:00; closed Jul-Aug. Established in 1895 and housed in the Schönborn Garden Palace, the museum is committed to conserving Austria’s and Central Europe’s traditional folk art by means of a permanent collection and changing displays. Apart from providing guided tours in German, English, and Slovak, the premises have a gift store and a museum library. Adult entrance is €8; senior admission is €6; concessionary access is €4.