Vienna Unwrapped Inspiration and Planning For Independent Travellers who are visiting Vienna
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. To explore Art Nouveau on your own, embark on an enlightening walk using this comprehensive guide and mapped out walking route. Besides top works of Wiener Jugendstil like the Vienna Secession and Otto Wagner buildings you will discover precious hidden gems.
Net Duration of walk: 1 hour 10 min
Length: 4.5 km / 2.8 m
Anker Clock
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. Although you are free to start your walk whenever you like, right at midday is the perfect timing. Why? At 12 noon, the drop-dead beautiful Anker Clock at Hoher Markt gets into action: At precisely the same moment every day, all 12 colourful historic characters pass across the clock’s screen to a contemporary tune. All of them had a major influence on Vienna – from Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Charlemagne to Prince Eugene of Savoy, Empress Maria Theresia and Joseph Haydn.
The clock was created by Art Nouveau artist Franz Matsch in 1914 and hangs on a bridge between Hoher Markt 10-11 and Hoher Markt 12. Another peculiarity is the clock-face: rather than round it is horizontal!
Pharmacy Zum Weissen Engel
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. As you start off in the heart of the city your second stop is a pharmacy. Right at vast square Am Hof / Bognergasse 9, two life-size mosaic angels guard the Apotheke Zum Weissen Engel. Behind its marble façade an utterly elegant parlour displays hundreds of labelled glass and porcelain jars on dark wooden shelves. A sumptuous flower chandelier illuminates medicine cabinets and a Jugendstil angel in stone. In fact, this rich Art Nouveau building is the work of Austrian architekt Oskar Laske, who also built the former University of Business and Economics and public bath Jorgerbad.
If you pass by at normal opening hours, it’s definitely worth getting some headache tablets together with a a few gorgeous camera shots of the interiors.
Artaria House
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. Around the corner at Kohlmarkt, an even lesser known Jugendstil discovery waits. At Kohlmarkt 9, look up from the store front to gaze at the distinctive facade of the Artaria House. Squeezed in between two older historic town houses, the building’s dark window frames with unique square grids sharply contrast its crisp white mural. Even more characteristic is the projecting roof decorated with gold painted panels.
As a matter of fact, Jugendstil architect Max Fabiani was less well known. However, in 1912, he did re-appear at a side scene of Austrian history when in 1912 he employed a young drawing assistant, called Adolf Hitler. The employment lasted just a few weeks, as Hitler clearly underperformed.
From the Artaria House, head through Johannesgasse for Stadtpark.
Wien River Promenade And Stadtpark Station
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. While metro line U4 lines up Otto Wagner’s Jugendstil metro stations like a string of pearls, few travellers know the Wien river promenade. At central Stadtpark, behind Stadtpark station, not only the Wien river cuts through the park. Alongside it, an Art Nouveau promenade boasting a marvellous portal and featuring large blue vases invites for a walk. Portal architect Friedrich Ohmann also designed the park’s bridges across the river.
From Stadtpark station, walk along Ringstrasse and Schwarzenbergplatz to the Otto Wagner pavilions at Karlsplatz.
Otto Wagner Pavilions and U4 metro station
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. Although they seem lost in the square’s vast space, the two Otto Wagner pavilions deserve a close look. In the photo you can see that they brim with gorgeous Jugendstil ornaments in green and gold. Until 1981, these were the most spectacular city train stations of Wien. As a matter of fact, only the public outcry saved them from being demolished.
One of the pavilions houses a small and compact exhibition of Otto Wagner’s visionary works as an artist and architect of Viennese Art Nouveau and Modernism.
The U4 underground station was also designed by Otto Wagner, who was responsible for the design of most of the beautiful green cast iron stations along the U4 overground line.
Secession Building
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. After you have managed to separate from the gorgeous pavilions, cross Resselpark and head for the Secession building on your right.
Since the Secession is so iconic for Wiener Jugendstil it has to form part of this walk. Although admittedly I have also included in in my art-focussed Vienna 1900 tour because of the Beethoven Frieze.
In 1897, Gustav Klimt and other secessionist artists founded the club of revolutionary artists, which produced this breathtaking building. Before you pay tribute to the sensational Frieze, take some time to walk around the building which is full of beautiful reliefs and ornaments. Read more in my review of the Vienna Secession.
Naschmarkt
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. Why do I include a flea and food market such as Vienna’s Naschmarkt in the Art Nouveau walk? Because its around 120 lovely 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. Read more on the Naschmarkt in Vienna.
Otto Wagner Buildings
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk. Continue your stroll through Naschmarkt until Linke Wienzeile 38, 40, and 42. They are the foot prints of famous Austrian Art Nouveau architect Otto Wagner’ who designed these jewels at the end of the 19th century.
In the photo on the right you can see Wagner’s house at Köstlergasse. Read more about these buildings in Otto Wagner.
Vienna Art Nouveau Walk: Map And Walking Route
To access the interactive map, just click on it.
for an otherworldly Art Nouveau experience visit the Otto Wagner Church
go to Otto Wagner in Vienna: Modernism and Art Nouveau
check out more self guided Vienna Walks
back to What To Do In Vienna
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