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Places of Interest in Vienna
City Hall and Park (Rathaus und Rathaus Park)
Rathausplatz 1, A-1010, Wien, U-Bahn: Rathaus
The Rathaus was designed by Friedrich von Schmidt and built between 1872 and 1883 in a neo gothic Flemish style (and continues to fulfil its intended purpose as a seat of local government). Because of its sheer size, it’s a fair old jaunt around the exterior, though the elaborate decoration makes it well-worth the effort.
The building’s most prominent feature is the central tower. Rising to a height of 320 feet/98 meters, atop is perched the statue of the "Rathaus man". Those who take a tour of the interior can also view the large Assembly Chamber with its decorative fresco by Austrian artist Ludwig Mayer (depicting Vienna’s history) while elsewhere, the grand Banqueting Hall is also an impressive feature.
In front of the City Hall is the Rathauspark, a quiet, idyllic setting in which to picnic (there are plenty of seats and tables) or grab a snack from the many good quality fast food stalls set up nearby.
Outdoor concerts also take place here in the evenings during summer months, while in the run up to Christmas, you’ll find it’s the setting for Vienna’s unforgettable Christkindlmarkt (which melts even the coldest of hearts and really gets locals into the festive spirit). Our recommendation is to grab a bite to eat from the fine selection of traditional cakes and pastries available at the "Ludo’s Team" stall. You won’t be disappointed!


