Landstrasse, Vienna
Third district of Vienna, Austria, Landstraße has a vibrant mix of old and modern features. Founded in the 1800s, this energetic area is distinguished by its high density and rich historical legacy going back to the 12th century.
Following the Third Crusade, a major event noted in historical records, King Richard the Lionheart of England felt anxiety in 1192 over Erdberg, today a part of Landstraße. The name of the district, “Landstraße,” comes from its past usage as a country route.
Considered a great asset in the Landstraße area, the magnificent 18th-century castle and garden complex known as The Belvedere Originally the home of Prince Eugene of Savoy, this architectural wonder today houses the prestigious Austrian Gallery. The extravagant mansion of Russian envoy to Vienna, Count Razumovsky, emphasizes the diplomatic value of the area.
One notable illustration of Landstraße’s encouragement of modern creative expression is the Hundertwasserhaus residential skyscraper. Renowned emblem is this unusual tower, a fantasy masterpiece created by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, architect and artist. The fascinating Museum of Art Fakes and the KunstHausWien, another museum built by Hundertwasser, add to the cultural atmosphere of the area.
Famous musician Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is buried in St. Marx Cemetery on Landstraße.
The district has historical value outside of its borders. Emphasizing the district’s geopolitical importance, the ex-Austrian Chancellor Metternich famously said that the Balkans begin at the Rennweg, a path used to pass along Landstraße towards the east.
For residents as well as visitors, the Landstraße neighborhood offers an amazing experience by deftly blending aspects of history, art, and modernism. The city is quite unique because of its great architectural marvels, rich historical legacy, and several cultural venues.
Landstrasse, Vienna: Exploring the Charms of the 3rd District
Situated in Vienna’s southeast section, Landstrasse is a fascinating area that deftly blends modern appeal with ancient grandeur. Together, the several sites provide a distinctive array of events ranging from traditional markets to art museums to remarkable architecture.
Comprising the Upper and Lower Belvedere, the complex Belvedere Palace is an amazing example of Baroque magnificence. Prestigious collection of artwork from Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele is shown mostly at the Upper Belvedere. The Lower Belvedere offers a view of the opulent way of life of the nobles who formerly resided on its grounds. Friedensreich Hundertwasser’s amazing architectural masterpiece, The Hundertwasserhaus, is well-known for its asymmetrical design, undulating flooring, and brilliant façade that aptly reflects the core of nonconformism.
Nestled within the city, Stadtpark is a verdant haven providing a quiet respite from the crowded streets. Visitors may stroll over meandering paths, enjoy serene ponds, and honor Johann Strauss at his monument. One repository of human creativity from many eras is the Vienna Museum of Art History. Along with a great collection of artistic treasures, its architecture is outstanding: marble columns, ornate ceilings, and interior decorations all around.
Renowned cultural site Vienna State Opera offers a broad spectrum of events including tragic dramas and love stories, with the most outstanding classical music performers among them. Landstrace’s opulent furniture and great architecture provide guests a unique experience that invites them to completely enter the fascinating realm of tale. With its vibrant atmosphere and numerous stores selling fresh fruits and vegetables, aromatic spices, and regional delicacies, the Rochusmarkt is a dynamic neighborhood market delivering a full sensory experience. Offering a varied spectrum of events appealing to the tastes of music lovers, including symphonic symphonies and solo recitals, the Konzerthaus is a respected institution for classical music. This place’s remarkable acoustics greatly improve the listening experience.
Popular for outdoor pursuits like a leisurely stroll or an energetic bike ride is Stadtpark, sometimes called City Park. Perfect for eating picnics and sampling local cuisine, the calm surroundings and picturesque location Often referred to as the Swiss Garden, the Schweizergarten is a wonderful haven for families and nature lovers providing a peaceful environment for relaxation and socializing. The park’s breathtaking view of the Belvedere Palace accentuates its beauty. Thrill-seekers will find heaven at Prater Park, which presents thrilling rides, carnival games, and a dynamic surroundings. Visitors also get the chance to savor authentic Viennese cuisine, which features well-known meals such apple strudel and Wiener Schnitzel.
Landstrasse boasts a varied and energetic gastronomic scene with a great range of ethnic cuisines and fusion dishes to suit every pallet. The active gastronomic scene in the neighborhood welcomes creativity and innovation; modern restaurants where talented chefs question accepted wisdom and reimagine classic dishes. The main commercial street in the area, Landstrasser Hauptstrace, presents a shopping experience full of local character. Prestigious brands abound on the street, offering a smooth mix of local and worldwide buying options.
For those who enjoy food and crafts, the Rochusmarkt in Landstrasse is a heaven offering a lively environment and a great variety of local treats. It provides a platform for nearby farmers and artists to showcase their skills and protect the special qualities of the area. Renowned fashion labels and lifestyle retailers together with modern shopping experiences are provided by The Mall at Landstrasse. The Viennale Film Festival is a worldwide event bringing both renowned and emerging filmmakers to present their artistic ideas. As numerous theaters and cultural venues host a range of events, the area experiences a dramatic metamorphosis into a vibrant center of artistic activity throughout the festival. A colorful celebration honoring Landstrasse’s historical and cultural history is the Kaisermühlenfest. It offers an energetic atmosphere and opportunities to interact with other artists and savor regional cuisine. Over the Christmas season, Landstrace changes remarkably and becomes a mesmerizing winter paradise. Beautiful Christmas markets with unique items and mouthwatering seasonal treats line the route.
Landstrasse offers a wide range of lodging options, from well-known hotels to little, chic establishments. These lodging have luxury conveniences and close access to surrounding sites of interest. Living in Landstrace offers handy access to famous landmarks, cultural venues, and gourmet treats. For visitors, vacation houses and flats offer a more realistic experience.
Explore the magnificent Schloss Belvedere, a sumptuous castle property with rich historical legacy and beautiful gardens. Critics of art should not ignore the well-known masterwork, The Kiss. Within a stunning and picturesque setting, Prater Park offers a wide spectrum of attractions and activities fit for people of all ages, including rides in an amusement park and wholesful entertainment. Near Landstrace, Vienna’s city center is a treasure of amazing architectural wonders and important historical landmarks. Notable sites such St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, and charming streets allow Vienna’s rich cultural legacy to be seen. Where local specialty boutiques blend with worldwide luxury brands, the city center offers a great range of retail options and cultural venues.
While fall covers the landscape in tones of gold, summer is the ideal season to explore the parks of Landstrace and engage in outdoor activities. Winter brings a happy atmosphere with fascinating Christmas markets. Visiting Landstrasse on weekdays or during low visitor activity will help to reduce traffic congestion. Strategic scheduling will help you maximize your time and enable you to fully participate in the wide spectrum of events the region presents.
Transportation
Using the U 3 line—with stops conveniently located at Landstraße, Rochusgasse, Kardinal-Nagl-Platz, Schlachthausgasse, Erdberg, and Gasometer—is the most effective way to reach the district from the city center. Including the Stadtpark and Landstrasse stations, the U 4 line also provides northern district access.
There is a large system of tram and bus lines serving the neighborhood.
Major transportation hub in Vienna, Wien Mitte (Landstraße) train station connects the U3 and U4 subterranean lines with the main S-Bahn route. Moreover, from this station the S7 S-Bahn line and the CAT (City Airport Train) offer easy airport access.
Operating on the Salzburg-Vienna Praterstern line, long-distance trains run under the private railway firm Westbahn stop hourly at Vienna Mitte. Along the major S-Bahn line in the third district, other important train stations are Rennweg and Quartier Belvedere. Twice every hour in both directions, the S7 S-Bahn line stops Sankt Marx station on way to Wolfsthal and the airport.
Though the major train station is in the 10th district, its eastern entrance is conveniently close to the 3rd district boundary. Located in the Erdberg area, the main center for international long-distance buses in Vienna, the Vienna International Busterminal (VIB)
The Autobahn A 23 (Südost Tangente) exits Gurtel and Sankt Marx as well as the northern terminal of the A 4 (Ost Autobahn) via exit Erdberg enable vehicle access to the district. With few exceptions in the industrial region, the district mostly functions as a short-term parking zone. At the Erdberg U3 station, there is roomy P+R garage. It is advised to park your car there and then keep on your trip using public transit.
The S7 S-Bahn line, which stops at St. Marx, Rennweg, and Landstrasse, or alternatively the CAT, is the most quick way from the airport to the third district.
Geography
Located in Vienna’s southeast corner, the Landstraße District features a great area of lush scenery gently dispersed over a sequence of Danube River terraces. These terraces, shaped over millennia by the flowing Danube currents, give the area a distinct geographic character. There is clearly a different age gradient; locations along the Danube or Danube Canal show more ancient history. Rising from the Danube Canal three separate terraces climb westward, each showing evidence of the geological creativity of the river.
Known as the zone of recent meanders, the most young terrace runs beside Arsenalstraße in Vienna’s 10th district. Its substratum consists of layers of glacially deposited gravel over Tegel and rare sandy deposits from the Pannonian epoch. The lowest layer consists of fine sand and silite while crowning this geological tapestry a cloak of loess carried aloft by winds from the Alpine foothills. Mostly produced from the erosion of the Alps and the Bohemian Massif, the component rocks of the gravel layer
A monument to the Danube’s sinuous history, the Erdberger Mais area located south of the Danube Canal. This region is mostly visible through embankments and an uneven surface; it lacks clearly defined borders. Carefully maintained as Natural Monument No. 752 near the junction of Baumgasse and Maiselgasse, a lone remnant of this bygone age is called Donauschlaghang.
With a 57.96% building area, the Landstrasse district ranks sixth among Vienna’s districts in this respect. Residential building space accounts for a meager 46.54%; industrial activities account for a significant 25.85%. The remaining 22.33% is set aside for public, cultural, religious, athletic, or ceremonial purposes. With most of 73.82% allocated to parks and 11.67% to sports and leisure facilities, green areas make 13.18% of total. Among Viennese districts, the traffic area of this one comes in seventh highest at 28.74%.
Born from the junction of three once independent areas – Weißgerber, Erdberg, and Landstraße – the area offers a harmonic mix of residential buildings, embassy buildings, apartment complexes, parks, and palace estates. Nestled east of Landstrasser Hauptstrange and south of Marxergasse, the Erdberg district is distinguished by residential structures and business areas. When NS Greater Vienna came about in 1938, Erdberg moved from the 10th to the 3rd district.
Eleven census districts— Weißgerber, Landstraße, Belvedere-Diplomatenviertel, Fasangasse, Rudolfspital-Rennwegkaserne, Erdberg, Erdberger Mais – St. Marx, Arsenal, Ungargasse, Altes Gaswerk, and Wildganshof—are painstakingly broken out statistically.
Demographics
In 1869, the Landstrasse district within Austria-Hungary boasted a populace of 88,678. This figure burgeoned to 166,981 by 1910, primarily attributed to the proliferation of novel residential enclaves. However, the dissolution of Austria-Hungary precipitated a 12% reduction in inhabitants, a number that plateaued until the 1930s. The years preceding the Second World War witnessed a decline, and post-war, the population contracted steadily, most notably during the 1960s and 1970s.
By 2001, the district’s demographic composition mirrored that of Vienna in totality, with 46.9% male and 53.1% female residents. Notably, the proportion of married individuals in Landstrasse was marginally lower than the Viennese average, at 38.4% compared to 41.2%.
In 2005, the district’s foreign resident quotient reached 21.4%, surpassing Vienna’s 18.7%. The largest contingent hailed from Serbia and Montenegro (4.9%), followed by individuals of Turkish origin (2.2%), German descent (1.9%), and Polish and Croatian/Bosnian citizenship (1.5% and 1.0% respectively).
The 2001 census revealed that 48.6% of Landstrasse residents professed membership in the Roman Catholic Church, marginally lower than Vienna’s 49.2%. Further analysis indicated that 7.5% adhered to the Islamic faith, 7.0% identified as members of the Orthodox Church, and 5.0% were Evangelical, predominantly associated with the Evangelische Pfarrgemeinde AB Landstraße.
Economy
Up to the beginning of the 19th century, the agricultural and viticultural skills provided the means of survival for the fledgling villages of Erdberg. Before the Ottoman army besieged Vienna, Alttunaw—later called Unter den Weißgerbern—was a refuge for butchers, intestinal washers, and horticulturalists. Retaining its unique identity as a group of horticulturists, leather artists, and meat vendors, the Weißgerber community stayed such.
The unstoppable march of industrialization saw a growing number of industries and businesses fleeing into suburban hinterlands as the 18th century went on. The area turned into a mosaic of manufacturers including chemical, textile, mirror, book, and chemical printing companies. The arrival of these industrial giants required the flood of workers from all across the kingdom, permanently changing the demographic fabric of the region.
Against such radical shift, remnants of conventional businesses still exist in the area. Still active are Siemens, Henkel, Niemetz, T-Mobile Austria, and Österreichische Post AG. Renowned icons of the neighborhood include Siemens, with a branch opened in 1882, and Henkel, with a branch going back to 1893. The headquarters of T-Mobile Austria moved to the just built T-Center in 2004. The corporate seat of Österreichische Post AG has adorned the old Siemens buildings in Haidingergasse since 2011.
History
As Vienna’s third district, the Landstraße area claims a record going back to the Bronze Age. Originally occupied by the Celts, it later housed a residential hamlet next to the Roman military camp, Vindobona. Munizipalstrasse and Limesstrace run across the district; it houses the old cattle market in Erdberg, the Fasanviertel sector, and various embassies.
Over the 20th century, the area underwent significant development. Two important events were the building of the St. Elisabeth Hospital and the Modena Park group. Originally middle class, the flood of trade and industry progressively changed Landstraße into a working-class area, as seen by the Rabenhof between Hainburger Strace and Baumgress.
A terrible past remembered at the Square of the Victims of Deportation, the Aspang rail station was used for the evil goal of sending Jewish people to extermination camps during the turbulent years of World War II. Designed as air raid shelters and to discourage hostile aircraft, two anti-aircraft towers were built at Arenbergpark. The MAK has now converted one of these buildings into the Contemporary Art Tower.
Five further boundary changes were performed following the end of the war, altering Simmering, Urschenböckgasse, and Litfaßstraße. These changes affected transportation lanes, commercial and industrial zones. Through the newly built underground line U3, the neighborhood has been subtly included into Vienna’s subterranean transportation system since the early 1990s.
Two main sites— Erdberg and the Wien Mitte rail station—have received most attention in urban development initiatives. Though ideas for a station date back to the mid-1990s, its original incompatibility with the UNESCO World Heritage classification of the old town hampered their fulfillment. Under a redesigned scheme carried out between 2007 and 2013, additional buildings including the Vienna-Mitte Justice Center were built next to the station.
Landstraße, which spans an industrial zone, also has the Campus Vienna Biocenter, T-Mobile’s main building, and the striking TrIIIple Towers, thereby highlighting its varied and changing landscape.
Places of interest
Museums
- Military History Museum,Ghegastr Arsenal Obj 1. Tel. : +43 (0)1 79561-0 , fax: +43 (0)1 7956110-17707 , email: hgm.direktion@bmlsv.gv.at . The structure was built between 1850 and 1856 in the Moorish-Byzantine and neo-Gothic styles, following to plans by Ludwig Foerster and Theophil Hansen.The museum depicts the history of the Habsburg monarchy from the end of the 16th century to 1918, as well as the fate of Austria following the monarchy’s demise until 1945.The military history of the high seas is emphasized.Open: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Sunday; closed: 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May, 1 November, 25 and 31 December.Price: Admission is €5.10, which includes an audio guide; guided tours are €2.20; picture permits are €1.50; and video permits are €3.60.
- Austrian Gallery Belvedere,Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 27, A-1030 Vienna( Upper Belvedere ). Tel. : +43 (0)1 79557-0 , fax: +43 (0)1 79557-121 , email: info@belvedere.at . The Austrian Gallery is one of the world’s most prominent museums, including holdings spanning from medieval to modern art.The artwork “The Kiss” by Gustav Klimt is well recognized, as are other paintings by Klimt, Kokoschka, Waldmüller, and Schiele, as well as works by French Impressionists and the Viennese Biedermeier era.
Open: Mon – Sun 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- 21 house(Contemporary Art Museum),Schweizergarten, Arsenalstrasse 1, A-1030 Vienna( near Belvedere ). The Austrian pavilion for the 1958 World Exhibition in Brussels was created in the 21er Haus, which was afterwards relocated to Vienna and inaugurated in 1962 as a museum of modern art.
Open: Wed 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Thu – Sun 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Price: Admission adults 7 €.
- Arnold Schoenberg Center,Schwarzenbergplatz 6, entrance Zaunergasse 1. Tel. : +43 (0)1 7121888 , Fax: +43 (0)1 7121888-88 , Email: office@schoenberg.at . The composer Arnold Schönbeerg’s estate is maintained here.Arnold Schönberg was born in Vienna in 1874 and died in Los Angeles in 1951. He was a musician, painter, teacher, theorist, and inventor.Longer stays in Berlin, Barcelona, Paris, and Boston.Schönberg’s name is connected with an epochal invention, the “method of composition with twelve tones that are only related to one another” in compositional history.Exhibitions on Schönberg’s life and work, a selection of his creative oeuvre, the reconstruction of his Los Angeles study, a library on Vienna School subjects, as well as concert series, seminars, workshops, and symposia, give a fuller understanding of Schönberg’s musical and artistic work.
Open: Mon – Fri 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., closed on public holidays.
- District Museum Landstrasse,11 six jug alley. Tel. : +43 (0)1 71134-03127 , Fax: +43 (0)1 71134-9935040 , Email: bm03@gmx.at .
- The Little Gallery,Kundmanngasse 30. Tel. : +43 (0)1 7103403 , fax: +43 (0)1 7103403-13 , e-mail: kleine.galerie@vhs.at .
- Counterfeiting Museum in Vienna,Löwengasse 28, opposite the Hundertwasserhaus. Tel. : +43 (0)1 7152296 , email: office@faelschermuseum.com . Spectacular criminal stories about fabricated works by famous art forgers are presented here, and the visitor is instructed in an amusing way about the differences between original, copy, and counterfeit.One learns, among other things, why the most famous English forger, Tom Keating, hid “time bombs” in his forgeries, how Han van Meegeren was able to deceive Göring with a forgery of what was in Kujau’s Hitler diaries, how a forged one Turkey made history in Germany, there are now “genuinely fake” counterfeits, and much, much more.
Open: Tue – Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Price: Admission: € 5.50 adults.
- Tram Museum,Erdbergstrasse 109. Tel. : +43 (0)1 7909-41800 , Fax: +43 (0)1 7909-41809 . The Vienna Tramway Museum houses approximately 100 historically, technically, and operationally valuable original vehicles from Vienna’s tram, light rail, and bus services, including a horse-drawn tramway from 1868, a steam tramway set from 1885/1886, and the complete range of trams and light rail vehicles for passenger transport and emergency services from 1901 to 1969. The bus collection includes vehicles produced between 1949 and 1978, including standard buses, double-deckers, and articulated vehicles.
Open: Beginning of May – end of September Sat, Sun + public holidays 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon. Guided tours between 8.30 a.m. and 2 p.m. by prior arrangement. Price: Admission: €6, young people (15 to 18 years): €4.50, children up to the age of 14 free entry.
- MAK Contemporary Art Depot Arenbergpark battle tower,Dannebergplatz 6/Barmherzigengasse. Phone : +43 (0)1 711 36-231 . Major parts of the MAK’s contemporary art collection are presented in the MAK Contemporary Art Depot. Spatial interventions by international artists (Vito Acconci, Ilya Kabakov, Hans Kupelwieser, Eva Schlegel and Chris Burden), objects by Renée Green, Kiki Smith, Bruno Gironcoli, Liz Larner, Béatrice Stähli, Birgit Jürgenssen and Franz West, artist editions (from Christian Boltanski, Gilbert and George, Jenny Holzer, Rebecca Horn, Juan Muñoz, Bruce Nauman, James Turrell) as well as examples of experimental architectural projects and manifestations (by Raimund Abraham, Coop Himmelb(l)au, Günther Domenig, Philip Johnson, Thom Mayne, Eric Owen Moss, Margarete Schutte-Lihotzky and Lebbeus Woods). Open: May 2nd to November 28th, Sun 2pm – 6pm. Price: Admission: € 5.50 incl. guided tour.
Streets and squares
- Beatrixgasse.Right between the Landstrasser Hauptstraße and the Salesianergasse. These are Biedermeier era residences ranging from 1801 to 1845 (houses 4–32). Designed by Josef Kornhäusel, four-story apartment building House No. 20 is from the Vormärz.
- Salesian Alley. Rennweg and Heumarkt’s connection is From the western end of the Salesianergasse, late Biedermeier development is continuous. While No. 12 is the birthplace of Hugo von Hofmannsthal, memorial plaque, Nos. 6 and 8 were built as a large rental complex for Count Abensberg-Traun in 1837–1839.
- Schwarzenbergplatz. In first, third, and fourth districts. There are three different stages that one might recognize: Originally, the square only comprised the area between Ring and Lothringer Straße (Vienna River).The Schwarzenberg monument was built right the middle of this region in 1863.The mirror-like construction was planned by Heinrich von Ferstelback, first district.Created following 1873 were the garden and the imposing jet fountain in front of the Palais Schwarzenberg.The Wien river was arched in the Lothringerstraße area between 1894 and 1902 as well as in the parts south-west and south-east of it.The independence monument fundamentally affected the concept of the square as the line of sight first pointed towards the Palais Schwarzenberg was disrupted.The liberal urban planning concept at the beginning of the century is best shown by the southern part of Schwarzenbergplatz.No. 4 is the House of Industry; No. 6 is the erstwhile brandy monopoly; Nos. 7–8 are massive neoclassical buildings erected in 1916.
Parks
Tucked inside Vienna’s central business district, the Botanical Garden and Botanical Institute of the University of Vienna is evidence of Empress Maria Theresia’s ongoing legacy. Originally built in 1754 at Gerhard van Swieten’s request as a medicinal plant garden, Emperor Franz I’s beautiful 1817 construction has seen several renovations during the 19th century. The garden is still a haven for rare and exotic plant species even though the expansion of the State Printing Office causes some partial truncation. Complementing the baroque beauty of the Belvedere grounds, the Botanical Garden encourages guests to investigate its several ensembles, each with a distinct character. Open everyday from 10 a.m.; closing times change seasonally; the garden provides a peaceful haven from the city bustle.
Nestled between the Botanical Garden and the Upper Belvedere, the mountain Garden offers an amazing microcosm of mountain vegetation. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., weather permitting, the garden is a refuge for nature lovers providing a window into the fragile ecosystems of hilly areas.
Originally designed as an English landscape garden in 1905/06, the Swiss Garden shows World War II wounds. The garden nevertheless serves as a moving reflection of its previous splendor notwithstanding significant destruction. These days it has a memorial to Rudolf Steer and the Museum of the 20th Century, originally known as the “Zwanzgerhaus” and now the “21er Haus”.
In the third district across the Wien river, the City Park is a lush haven providing relief from the dynamic city life. Inside its limits, guests may see the Meierei, a little structure built between 1901 and 1903, and a monument honoring natural medicine pioneer Sebastian Kneipp.
Originally opened in 1785, Arenberg Park has a distinct historical character. Two flak towers, relics from World War II, that starkly remind us of the city’s past define its grounds.
Vienna’s “last G’stätten,” an uncultivated biotope, is on the crest of the Danube crash slope in the Anton-Kuh-Weg / Maiselgasse area. With traces of the Linienwall city walls clear near Baumgasse, this unspoiled wildness provides a window into the natural past of the city.
Churches
- Elizabethan Church,Landstrasser Hauptstrasse 4a. The Elisabethine church, convent, and hospital Empress Eleonore, the widow of Emperor Leopold I, bequeathed upon the city a trifecta of charity. Originally built in 1710, the mid-eighteenth century saw a major transformation in the original construction. Franz Anton Pilgram oversaw this rebuilding using money from Emmerich Esterhazy, Prince Primate of Hungary. The consecration of the chapel in 1749 coincided with the opening of a pharmacy apparently supplied by Empress Maria Theresia. At the end of the 18th century, Emperor Joseph II decided to limit the growth of the monastery after realizing the importance of the nursing activities carried out inside its walls. Between 1834 and 1836, the hospital wing was restored and enlarged among other improvements. The framework still has a coherent ensemble look despite later changes. Pilgram’s design for the high altar of the church centers on its altarpiece showing Saint Elizabeth’s ascent into paradise. Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia’s bones and crowned head are housed at a reliquary shrine within the nuns’ choir. Along with paintings credited to the circle of the baroque painter Franz Anton Maulbertsch, the property also contains an astonishingly well-preserved pharmacy.
- Erdberg Parish Church (Peter and Paul),The Erdberg Parish Church originated in the 13th century when a chapel first mentioned in 1333 was on the location. This previous construction collapsed in 1683, opening the path for the present baroque-classical building. The church’s development carried on into the 18th and 19th centuries with the installation of a choir and tower in 1770, its elevation to parish church status in 1783, and later expansions. Dating back to 1735, sculptures of Saints Peter and Paul decorate the entryway; the inside shows a remarkable contrast of vivid colors against baroque altars and saint figures. Made in 1810, the altarpiece “Farewell to the Apostles Peter and Paul,” adorns the high altar.
- Redeemer Church,Rennweg 63. Built between 1834 and 1836, the Redeemer Church was first the Redemptorist Convent of the Comforters of Gethsemane. Designed as a monastery church for the Redemptorist order, Clemens Maria Hofbauer brought to Vienna 1830, the complex epitomizes romantic historicism with features of early Renaissance architecture. Added more recently from 1948, the altar painting shows Sacred Heart veneration next to Czech and Moravian patron saints.
- Guard Church,Rennweg 5a. Originally the Kaiserspitalskirche, the Guard Church, often known as the Church of the Resurrectionists in commemoration of the crucified Savior, was The Kaiserspital’s move from Ballhausplatz to Rennweg in 1754 required the building of a new church, a chore completed by Nikolaus Pacassi between 1755 and 1763. Among Pacassi’s most important works is this free-standing, Rococo-ornamented construction. Emperor Joseph II conferred the chapel upon the Galician (Polish) Life Guards after the Imperial Hospital was dissolved in 1782. Following the hospital’s expulsion in the late 19th century, the church became the Plopian national church under the direction of the Resurrectionists. Mostly unaltered since the 18th century, the church’s interior boasts a towering altar picture by Peter Strudel showing Christ on the cross. Possibly from the Ribera area, the side altars have a copy of the miraculous picture of Our Lady of Czstochowa and a 17th-century portrayal of Our Lady of Sorrows.
- January Chapel,Ungargasse 69. Built during an enlargement project between 1730 and 1735, the baroque January Chapel was housed within the historic Harrach Garden Palace. Alois Thomas Graf Harrach, Viceroy of Naples from 1728 to 1733, sponsored Johann Lucas von Hildebrandt’s designs, therefore bringing St. Januarius (S. Gennaro) into Vienna under veneration. Apart from the church, the palace used as a military riding school from 1866 until its destruction in 1968. Late 20th century new school construction included this lone survivor into its design. Completed in 1735, Martinus Altomonte’s great altar strikingly depicts Saint Januarius’s martyrdom.
- Parish Church of St. Rochus and Sebastian,Landstraßer Hauptstraße 56 / corner of Sechskrügelgasse. Originally called from Prague in 1630 by Emperor Ferdinand II, the Order of Discalced Augustinian Hermits is the basis of the Parish Church of St. Rochus and Sebastian. Founded in 1642, the church suffered major damage and then underwent restoration in 1683. Since the collapse of the monastery in 1812, it has been a parish church serving under its name. Designed between 1718 and 1721, the façade—a monument to the grandeur of baroque architecture—probably drew on ideas by Anton Ospel. Gift from Emperor Leopold I in 1689, the high altar has Peter Strudel’s altarpiece showing St. Mary, Sebastian, Rochus, Rosalia, Pope Gregory the Greater, and St. Augustine interceding for Vienna suffering with a plague.
- Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas,Jauresgasse 2-4 / corner of Bahngasse. With its five-domed form recalling the architecture of Russian cathedrals from the 16th and 17th centuries, the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Nicholas is a monument to late historical architectural traditions. Built between 1893 and 1899, the cathedral was meant to be the Russian diplomatic church; Tsar Alexander III helped to pay for it. Traditional materials including stone, raw bricks, mosaic, copper roofing, and majolica strips abound throughout Grigory Ivanovich Kotov’s design. St. Nicholas is honored in the top church; St. Alexander Nevsky is honored in the lower church. The Russian Orthodox community of Vienna has found spiritual residence in the cathedral since 1969.
- Salesian Church,Rennweg 8-10. Church of the Visitation of Mary. Renowned for its harmonic and uniform architecture, the baroque monastery complex known as the Salesian Church—also known as the Church of the Visitation of Mary—is Widow of Emperor Joseph I, Empress Amalie Wilhelmine asked the sisters of the Order of the Visitation Marie from Mechelen, Belgium, to open a convent and school for noble girls in Vienna. Under Donate Felice Allio’s direction, construction started in 1717 and Joseph Emanuel Fischer von Erlach helped to create the façade. Finished by 1730, the interior has one of Vienna’s most magnificent baroque church halls. Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini painted his dome fresco of the Assumption of Mary between 1725 and 1727. The project’s donor, Empress Amalie Wilhelmine, ended her life at the high altar. Antonio Beduzzi’s altarpiece likewise shows the Assumption of Mary. The monastery, cloister, and garden were finished in 1730, but they perished during World War II; only their baroque furniture survived. The church features a Gothic image of the Virgin Mary as well. Since 1988, sections of the monastery have been used by the University of Music and Performing Arts.
- Orphanage Church, Parish Church of the Birth of Mary,at Rennweg 91. Established in 1742, the Orphanage Church—also known as the Parish Church of the Birth of Mary—then fell under public ownership under Empress Maria Theresa. From 1797 on, the building was used as an artillery barracks. Built between 1768 and 1770, the church stands out for its continuous baroque interior, white and gold drenched. Especially, during the opening of the church in front of Empress Maria Theresa, a 12-year-old Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart performed his first mass, the Orphanage Mass. To the left of the door is a memorial displaying Mozart’s picture.
