The Wedding Fountain: A Baroque Masterpiece in Vienna

Located in the heart of Vienna's historic Innere Stadt, the Wedding Fountain, or Vermählungsbrunnen, graces the Hoher Markt with its Baroque splendor. This impressive monument was commissioned by Emperor Leopold I in 1702 to fulfill a promise made during the War of the Spanish Succession. He vowed to erect a religious monument if his son, Joseph, returned safely from the siege of Landau. Joseph did return, and after Leopold's death, his sons saw to the fulfillment of that promise. The fountain's design was initially conceived as a wooden pillar by Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach in 1706. However, this was replaced by the current stone and marble structure completed in 1732 under Emperor Charles VI. The statues are the work of Antonio Corradini, a Venetian artist. The fountain portrays the marriage of Mary and Joseph, officiated by a high priest, a relatively rare subject in Christian art. A bronze baldachin, supported by Corinthian columns, crowns the scene. Severely damaged during World War II, the Wedding Fountain was meticulously restored between 1950 and 1955. Today, it stands as a symbol of Vienna's resilience and artistic heritage. The Hoher Markt itself has a rich history, once serving as a Roman garrison and possibly hosting Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Roman ruins discovered during excavations can be viewed at the Römermuseum nearby. The square is surrounded by other attractions, including the Stadttempel, Stephansdom, and Peterskirche.