Vienna City Hall

The contest

A competition in 1868 chose Friedrich von Schmidt as the architect

By 1850 Vienna's rapid growth had made the Altes Rathaus inadequate. After the city walls came down for the Ringstraße, a competition was held in 1868, and the German architect Friedrich von Schmidt won. The Gothic Revival building was constructed between 1872 and 1883.

The site

It stands on a former parade ground, and the site was a political issue

The city chose the Josefstädter Glacis, a former restricted area in front of the demolished walls that had served as a parade ground. The site was secured in 1870 after Mayor Cajetan Felder intervened. The debate symbolized the rising confidence of the bourgeoisie in relation to the Emperor.

Finished

The final stone was laid on the bicentennial of the 1683 victory

Construction began in May 1872, and the foundation stone was laid on 14 June 1873. The final stone was placed on 12 September 1883, coinciding with the bicentennial celebration of the 1683 victory over the Ottoman invaders. The City Council moved in on 23 June 1885.

The size

The building has 1,575 rooms, 2,035 windows and a 98-meter tower

The hall is 152 meters long and 127 meters wide. The 98-meter high tower is crowned by the Rathausmann, a symbolic figure of Vienna. The side facades carry statues of professions, such as a tailor, a baker and a printer.

1,575rooms, with 2,035 windows

The Festsaal

The Festsaal is the largest historic hall in Austria

Above the Volkshalle, the Festsaal has a Renaissance-style barrel vault designed to avoid a church-like appearance. It has relief portraits of Mozart, Haydn, Gluck and Schubert. The building was rebuilt after bomb damage in World War II by the mid-1950s.