Rathaus (City Hall of Vienna)
The Rathaus (City Hall of Vienna) is one of the city’s most recognizable buildings and top tourist attractions. It is located in the very city centre and can be easily reached by foot in few minutes from other Vienna’s major sights and landmarks.
The Rathaus that serves as the seat of the mayor and city council was built in neo-Gothic style according to the design of Friedrich von Schmidt between 1872 and 1883. The large building occupying 133,000 square meters (1. 216 321 square feet) is dominated by 98 meters (321 feet) high tower without the banner-carrying iron Rathausmann designed by Wilhelm Ludwig. The Rathausmann is measuring nearly 6 meters (20 feet) including with the raised banner.
The Vienna City Hall is open to visitors and also houses Municipal and State Libraries and Archives as well as the famous “Wiener Rathauskeller”, a restaurant offering traditional Viennese delicacies. In summer, the Rathaus is a popular scene for various concerts.