Art Nouveau Walk

What I like about this fairly relaxed Art Nouveau walk is the variety of objects and experiences it exposes you to: It mixes public architecture with shop design, fine art with commercial vintage, walking with relaxing. On top, you will not only gain insight into Vienna culture of the 1900s but find out more about Vienna's contemporary urban life.

Some of the more well known Art Nouveau buildings are scattered across Vienna, such as Otto Wagner's Savings Bank building on the Ringstrasse, with a few of them in the outskirts. Unless you are an absolute fanatic and have time at your hands, I recommend you focus on the great gems that you can find in one area.

Austria's Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) centres around the works of the Vienna Secession, Vienna's club of revolutionary artists that was founded in 1897 by artists Gustav Klimt, Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann, Joseph Maria Olbrich, Max Kurzweil, Otto Wagner, and others.

In 2012, Vienna will celebrate Klimt's 150-year anniversary. Learn about the special exhibitions and guided tours that will take place in Vienna.

Secession and U4 Karlsplatz

Start your Art Nouveau walk right at the Secessionists' exhibition centre, the Secession on Karlsplatz, or with the underground station building as you alight on Karlsplatz. The station was designed by Otto Wagner, who was responsible for the design of most of the beautiful green cast iron stations along the U4 overground line.

Ever thought cabbage looks that good? The Secessionists' exhibition centre Secession was designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich who crowned his work with a huge globe of golden leaves. The Viennese call it ‘Krauthappel’ (cabbage head). The interior includes the absolutely marvellous Beethoven frieze - Gustav Klimt's interpretation of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony - and contemporary exhibtions.

Naschmarkt

Why do I include a flea and food market such as Vienna's Naschmarkt in the Art Nouveau walk? Because its around 120 landmarked stalls and shops date from the early 20th century. Most of them have the original swirly dark green cast iron structure that you will also find at many U4 underground stations in the area. On top, the Naschmarkt spans the bridge between daily Art Nouveau architecture and one of the most bustling contemporary areas of Vienna.

Not to mention that some of the finest Art Nouveau buildings by renown architect Otto Wagner gather just around the Naschmarkt.

Café Drechsler

The Cafe Drechsler is a great excuse to interrupt your Art Nouveau walk to check out what UK star designer Sir Terence Conran did to an old Vienna coffeehouse. You will find a showcase of how to reinvigorate authentic Viennese design with a dash of urban chic. This is also true of the Cafe's menu which features lovely creations such as pumpkin goulash.

Like some Vienna institutions, the Café Drechsler has created its own compilation of cool urban sounds on two CDs, which you will likely hear when you enter. Here is an audio preview of what the cafe sounds like.

Otto Wagner Buildings

Continue your Art Nouveau Walk of the Naschmarkt until Linke Wienzeile 38 and 40, two of Austrian Art Nouveau architect Otto Wagner's jewels. No 38 has great golden ornaments on its white facade whereas No 40, also called the Majolikahaus, is tiled with glazed red poppy tiles made from majolika (see photo). At No 42, cross the Naschmarkt, and take a good view of Otto Wagner-designed overground station Kettenbrückengasse.

Chocolaterie Fruth

Continue straight into Kettenbrückengasse where at no 20 your next art nouveau find waits, in the shape of delicious Chocolaterie Fruth. Mr. Fruth's creations with cranberries and chili, and his confectionery and drinking chocolate call for closer inspection of the shop's ... well ... interior design and period cupboards.

Restaurant Motto

You are now right in the middle of Vienna's 5th district, Margareten, and about to finish off your walk. The former labour district (where my late grandfather ran his lamp design studio) has transformed into a trendy area of young urban professionals and families in the past years. An extravagant place for lovers of both design and good food is Motto on Schönbrunnerstrasse. Though not Art Nouveau, you must not miss this cult bar and restaurant in Vienna's trendy fifth district that is just around the corner from where you would be on your walk.

Later on, bus no 59A will bring you back to the Vienna State Opera from where you can change to other means of public transport. Alternatively, catch the underground U4 at Pilgramgasse.

Art Nouveau Walk Tour Map

See the walk in the map below. Click on the icons for further details on the different stops, and on the link below the map to zoom in.

View Vienna Walk II: Art Nouveau in a larger map