Altes Rathaus: Vienna's Historic City Hall

The Altes Rathaus, or Old City Hall, stands as a testament to Vienna's long and rich history. Located in the Innere Stadt (1st district), at Wipplingerstraße 6/8, this building has been in the city's possession since 1316, when Frederick the Fair donated the original structure to the city council. Over the centuries, the Altes Rathaus has undergone numerous expansions and renovations, resulting in its current exterior, which showcases the style of Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach. However, the official rooms retain their Baroque character, and some Gothic elements are still visible. The impressive portal dates back to around 1700. The courtyard features the Andromeda Fountain, created in 1741 by Georg Raphael Donner. Behind the courtyard is the Sankt Salvator church, a Gothic structure from the 14th century. The council chamber was redesigned between 1851 and 1853 by Ferdinand Fellner the Elder. Before the city council moved to the Neue Rathaus in 1885, the Altes Rathaus was the center of Vienna's municipal administration. Today, the building houses the municipal offices for the 1st and 8th districts, the Innere Stadt local history museum (Bezirksmuseum Innere Stadt), and the Documentation Centre of Austrian Resistance.