Ringstraße

The Ringstraße is a circular road surrounding the Innere Stadt district of Vienna and is one of its main sights. It is typical of the historical style called Ringstraßenstil (Ringstraße Style) of the 1860s to 1890s.

Buildings

Most buildings date back to the time before 1870. The most notable ones include:

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• The K.u.K. Hofoper (now Vienna State Opera), in neo-romantic style by August Sicard von Sicardsburg and Eduard van der Nüll,
• The Akademie der bildenden Künste (Academy of Fine Arts),
• The Justizpalast (now Federal Ministry of Justice),
• The Parliament building, in neo-attic style (a reference to the democracy of ancient Athens) by Theophil von Hansen,
• The Rathaus (Town Hall) in Flemish-gothic style by Friedrich Schmidt,
• The Burgtheater by Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer,
• The University Building, in neo-renaissance style (a reference to the beginnings of the university system in northern Italy,
• The Votivkirche, in neo-gothic style (a reference to the gothic Cathedrals of France) by Heinrich Freiherr von Ferstel,
• The Börse (Stock Exchange),
• The Ringturm, modern 1950's style,
• The Urania observatory,
• The Kriegsministerium (now Regierungsgebäude), in neo-baroque style by Ludwig Baumann,
• The Postsparkasse (Postal Savings Bank), in Jugendstil by Otto Wagner,
• The Museum für Angewandte Kunst (Museum of Applied Arts) in neo-renaissance style by Heinrich Freiherr von Ferstel,
• The Palais Württemberg (now Hotel Imperial),
• The Ringstraßengalerien, also known as the Korso, in modern 1990's style.

The only sacred building is the Votivkirche, which was built after Emperor Franz Joseph had been saved from an assassination attempt in 1853.

Related Topics:
Franz Joseph - 1853

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The Hofburg was extended by an annex, the Neue Hofburg (New Hofburg), which houses the Museum of Ethnology and the Austrian National Library today. On the other side of the street, there are the Kunsthistorisches Museum (Museum of Art History) and the Naturhistorisches Museum (Museum of Natural History), which were built for the imperial collections. Originally, there should have been a parallel wing opposite the Neue Hofburg, which would have been attached to the Museum of Natural History. The Heldenplatz and the Maria-Theresien-Platz would have become the Kaiserforum. However, that plan was shelved for lack of funds.

Related Topics:
Hofburg - Museum of Ethnology - Austrian National Library - ''Kunsthistorisches Museum'' (Museum of Art History) - ''Naturhistorisches Museum'' (Museum of Natural History) - Heldenplatz - Maria-Theresien-Platz

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The construction ended only in 1913 with the completion of the Kriegsministerium (Ministry of War). At that time, the Ringstraßenstil was already somewhat outdated, as is shown by the Postsparkassengebäude (Postal Savings Society Building) by Otto Wagner, which was built at the same time.

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The Ringstraße was also generously planned with green areas and trees, the most notable parks being the Stadtpark with the Kursalon, Burggarten, Volksgarten, and Rathausplatz, as well as a number of squares such as the Schwarzenbergplatz, Schillerplatz, Maria-Theresien-Platz and Heldenplatz. Dotted along the Ringstraße are various monuments. They include statues to Goethe, Schiller, Empress Maria Theresia, Prince Eugene of Savoy, Archduke Charles, the founders of the First Austrian Republic, Athena, Andreas von Liebenberg, Count Radetzky, Georg Coch, and Johann Strauß amongst many.

Related Topics:
Stadtpark - Kursalon - Burggarten - Volksgarten - Rathausplatz - Schwarzenbergplatz - Schillerplatz - Goethe - Schiller - Empress Maria Theresia - Prince Eugene of Savoy - Archduke Charles - First Austrian Republic - Athena - Andreas von Liebenberg - Count Radetzky - Georg Coch - Johann Strauß

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The biggest catastrophe was the fire of the Ringtheater in 1881, in which several hundred people died. It was subsequently demolished and replaced with the Sühnhof, which was built in memory of the more than 300 victims, and openend by Emperor Franz Joseph. It was destroyed during the bombing of Vienna in 1945, today the municipal police-headquarters is there.

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Other buildings that were destroyed or heavily damaged during WWII was the Opera, the opposite building Heinrichshof which was replaced in the 50's with the Kärtnerhof. The Urania observatory, the Kriegsministerium and the Parliament building were heavily damaged, and the Burgtheater burned down. The famous Metropol Hotel, which was located at the Franz-Joseph-Kai, was completely destroyed and replaced with a monument to the victims of Nazism.

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