One of our favourite buildings along the Ringstrasse is the Vienna City Hall or Rathaus. This magnificent building was erected in the second half of the 19th century, during the reign of the emperor Franz Josef. Rathaus is the official seat of the Mayor. Moreover, it is also the meeting place of the city senate, provincial government, Municipal Council and Landtag.
Style of Rathaus
Did you think at first glance that Rathaus looks like a magnificent church? Well, the building was built in Gothic style and its tower resembles indeed a cathedral’s tower! Without any doubts, it is Vienna’s most important non-religious building constructed in this specific style! The basic structure of bricks was covered by different natural stones like limestone, slate and marble. The height of the tower is 97.9 meters. There are 331 stairs in total which will take you all the way up to the top! Once you step inside, you will find 1.575 rooms, dedicated to the bureaus of the municipal council, regional parliament and government, and some municipal authorities. Rathaus is also home to the Vienna City Regional Library and the Vienna City and Regional Archive.
The Rathausplatz, the square in front of the building, is for visitors as important as the majestic Rathaus itself! Nearly all-the-year you can join special events which take place here. The famous Christmas market, the charming Viennese ice-skating rink, Filmfestival Rathausplatz and many other surprises are waiting for you! Join us to experience Vienna at its fullest! In our tour we will see this impressive building through our Future Bus window. Afterwards, we will visit it virtually to uncover one of the secrets within it. Are you ready to join and dive headlong into the past of this beautiful place? Book your ticket here.
Visit the Vienna Rathaus webpage in the city of Vienna website here.