Vienna's oldest municipal park was created by landscape designers to realise the idea of an ornamental garden with a 'friendly character'. Beautiful shrubs, open vistas, flower beds and winding paths were designed to enhance the charm of this place for long walks.
While you're in the Austrian capital, why not take a short break from your sightseeing tour and visit this natural oasis. And if you're travelling with children, make sure you include a visit to the park in your holiday plans. For an overview of the history and current development of Vienna's city park, please see the following pages.
Developing and landscaping
The first part of the park opened in 1862 on the left bank of the River Wien. A year later, industrious hands created a children's area on the right bank. These areas are now linked by two bridges. A long promenade in the Viennese Art Nouveau style runs along the pond. The total area of the park is 65 thousand square metres. It was completed in 1872.
The park is dominated by a landscape of flowering shrubs and picturesque lawns. It is forbidden to run on the lawns, but it is permitted to lie down and rest. During spring and summer weekends, try to find a free picnic spot. Pets must be kept on a lead on the promenade.
Avenues of trees along noisy roads absorb noise and filter polluted air. This ensures a healthy atmosphere in the recreation area. It is not without reason that an Italian Renaissance-style hospital was opened here in 1867, and now, after renovation, it hosts balls, concerts, congresses and club parties. Visitors can also enjoy a cosy café.
A chic restaurant was built in 2004 on the site of the former dairy pavilion from 1901-1903, of which only parts remain. A sculpture in the shape of a large milk bottle at the entrance is always an eye-catcher.
There are six fountains in the park. They are both decorative and provide clean drinking water. This is particularly important on hot days.
Four large areas, separated by a crossroads, are designed for children from toddlers to teenagers. Sandpits, slides, swings, football and basketball pitches, skateboards — everything you need for outdoor fun. In winter, children can go sledging and there's an ice rink nearby from October to March.
On the large pond, visitors can enjoy their favourite pastime: feeding colourful ducks.
In March 2004, a lift was installed at the exit to the underground station. There are now no barriers for mothers with prams.
Sculpture collection
The number of sculptures and monuments in Vienna's Stadtpark is the highest of any park in the capital.
The most photographed object is the gilded statue of the waltz king Johann Strauss the Younger. The musician is depicted with a violin in his hand, behind him a white marble arch with dressed leaves and floating figures. The work was created in 1921 by Edmund Hellmer. Its copies have spread around the world and can now be found in Japan, China and even Cuba.
The figure of Johann Strauss greets everyone entering the station from the Ringstrasse. From the third district of the capital, a modern steel installation by Donald Judd can be seen. Donated by the artist in 1995, it consists of six coloured canvases connected by a metal frame at different levels.
Here and there, the silhouettes of composers Franz Schubert, Franz Lehar and Robert Stolz, hydrotherapist Sebastian Kneipp, painters Friedrich von Amerling, Emil Jacob Schindler, Hans Canon and others are carved into solid material. There is also a marble statue of the decorator Hans Makart in costume from 1879 and bronze busts of the musician Anton Bruckner and the mayor Andreas Zelinka.
The best thing about walking with children is that they get to meet famous historical figures. Children are bound to ask why and to whom the monuments were erected. The questions will relate to both the flowering flora and the bird life. In this way, a visit to the park serves an educational purpose.
During the day, the area is frequented by schoolchildren in physical education classes and kindergarten groups with their teachers. This ensures lively interaction between the children. The area is also very suitable for mothers walking their babies in prams. In general, you can always get a boost of energy, health and enjoyment from walking in this green space.
