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The dark side of Vienna: Five sinister spots in the Austrian capital

Had enough sachertorte, waltzes and churches? Looking for a darker, less salubrious side of Vienna? We've got you. In the first of a series, historian and travel fiend Mike Stuchbery, introduces you to some of the city's horrible history and sorrowful spots…

The dark side of Vienna: Five sinister spots in the Austrian capital
Photo: Wikicommons/August Stada

Blood-curdling: Ungarisches Haus

Augustinerstraße 12, 1st District

 

Photo: Wikicommons/Buchhandler

While the legend of the infamous 'Blood Countess’, Elizabeth Bathory, is more associated with Hungary and Slovakia, she does have a small cameo in Vienna's story.

When not off torturing the help at Cachtice Castle in modern Slovakia, the infamous sadist – and yes, she most certainly was one – had a townhouse, the 'Hungarian House’,near the centre of the city. At the dawn of the 16th century, she spent a considerable amount of time there, as she managed her absent husband's affairs.

Just because she was living in the big city, that didn't mean that she necessarily behaved herself. Legends tell the monks in the Augustinian monastery across the street hurled pots at the house, trying to get the screaming from servant girls to stop.

Whether or not there's any truth to the stories is hard to say – there was a lot of propaganda produced around Bathory, who was a Protestant, by Catholic forces. What is clear, however is there was significant mistreatment of servants, as preserved legal records show

As for the place itself, the townhouse facade was renovated in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, if you're convinced that the evil that men do lives beyond death, look for number 12 opposite the Augustinerkirche and soak in the absolute depravity.

Up In Flames: Haus zum Grossen Jordan

Judenplatz 2, 1st District

 

Photo: Wikicommons/ Wolfgang Sauber

 

Vienna's Jewish community is an integral, vital part of what makes the city what it is.  Unfortunately, it has also been subject to persecution a number of times over the last 800 years.

Hundreds of years of years prior to the Holocaust, in 1421, Vienna's Jews were targeted by Duke Albrecht V. A raging anti-semite, he was convinced they aided and abetted his enemies, withholding the wealth that sustained his military campaigns.

Ordering forcible conversions, his troops (and quite a lot of citizens) descended upon the area around Judenplatz in March 1421, laying siege. The community lasted three days, before the Rabbi of the synagogue burned it down with many inside, hoping to spare them . The few survivors were led outside the city walls and burned at the stake.

In the aftermath of the pogrom, the former Jewish quarter was divided up amongst those leading the persecutions. A plaque appeared on the 'Haus zum Grossen Jordan’, showing the persecutions and cruelly reading:

‘As the waters of the River Jordan cleansed the souls of the baptized, so did the flames which rose up in the year 1421 rid the city of all injustice’

Debate has raged for years as go whether the plaque should be taken down. Personally, I feel that it should remain and viewed in conjunction with the nearby, striking Holocaust memorial, and award-winning Jewish Museum. Viewed together, they tell an important story about the cycles of hatred that challenge us – and the resilience of the local Jewish community.

Pestilence: Elisabethstrasse

Elisabethstrasse, 1st District

 

Photo: Wikicommons/Peter Gugerell

 

Vienna is well known for its cemeteries. It’s even better known for its culture of death – however, all in good order, and all in good time. Plague and pestilence was one of the most feared disasters that could strike the medieval city, and despite the best efforts of the city fathers, it struck a number of times, encouraged by filthy and damp conditions.

Perhaps the most severe outbreak, of course, was during the Black Death, around 1349. Faced with a great deal of sick and dead that needed to be disposed of, a space was allocated outside the city walls for their care and burial. It needed to a large one – some suggest that up to two-thirds of the city’s population died.

Hundreds of years later, when the city expanded outside the medieval city’s footprint, workmen laying the foundations of roads and buildings on today's Elisabethstrasse, to their surprise, found a great deal of skeletons.

They had stumbled across what had once been a large plague cemetery, alongside a hospital for the sick. In the chaos of previous centuries, the city’s plague dead had been completely forgotten. When the Turks invaded in 1529, the hospital had been destroyed and the city ramparts that rose afterward covered the area until the 19th century.  As is the case with many European cities, the dead slipped between the cracks.

Today there’s nothing to suggest that this was the site of so much woe – it’s a rather lovely street on the cusp of the Innere Stadt. However, come here at dusk and you just might just catch the shade of a long-dead Viennese burgher, bemused at the pomp and glamour that has covered his resting place!

Theresia's Sad Tale: Hoher Markt

Hoher Markt 1, 1st District

 

(Anker clock, Hoher Markt. Photo: Wikicommons/Thomas Ledl)

Not too far from where the fountain stands in the city’s former marketplace, also once stood one of the city’s execution spots. It was here in March 3, 1809, that hundreds of troops stood guard as Theresia Kandl mounted the steps towards the hangman’s noose.

Theresia’s crime? These days, we’d say she was a battered woman, the victim of cruel physical and verbal punishment at the hands of a violent and uncaring husband.

After one beating too many, young Theresia took an axe on one snowy night and gave her husband, drunk in a stupor, ten awful blows, killing him on the spot.

Panicking, she stripped her husband and placed the mangled corpse in a basket, walking through snowy streets to dump him somewhere in the 4th District. Unfortunately she was spotted by a local baker and after considerable questioning, she confessed, having been presented with bloody clothes.

Of course, the idea of a slight, attractive woman (she was very pretty) murdering her much larger husband caused an uproar – it was seen to upset the natural order of things  People flocked to see her as she was held in the pillory, in the lead up to her execution, and murder ballads were written and sung on every street corner, so that everyone knew her name.

Even after her execution, the name Theresia Kandl was spoken of for many years. In fact, something strange happened. Near where she grew up, the Kandlkapelle was built, in her honour. Rather than a vile murderess, she somehow transmogrified into a tragic figure, simply trying to defend herself.

One might suggest that in the age of #MeToo, the story of Theresia has special significance, as we address the exploitation and abuse that is all to prevalent in any number of areas. Whether this is true or not, it can’t be denied that the place has a slight air of melancholy.

Assassination: Bundeskanzleramt

Ballhausplatz 2, 1st District

 

Photo: Bundeskanzleramt. Wikicommons/Manfred Werner

Vienna's dark history stretches right up to the 20th century. Yet even before the horrors of the Nazi regime, Vienna was a turbulent, violent place – especially during the interwar period.

Engelbert Dolfuss, as Federal Chancellor in the early thirties, attempted to mend the political divisions that had torn the country apart during the Austrian Civil War. Unfortunately, his solution to this was 'Austrofascism’, an end to democracy and the rule of a single party.

This still wasn't enough for the National Socialists, or Nazis, however. Inspired by their German cousins, they sought to take control of the country in a coup an enact the policies already being rolled out across the border.

On the 25th of July, 1934, ten Nazis entered the Bundeskanzleramt, attempting to overthrow the regime. Coming across Dolfuss and his entourage as they attempted to flee, the chancellor was shot, dying a couple of hours later.

While the Nazi coup failed shortly after the death of Dolfuss, only four years later the country was annexed and became part of the Nazi state until 1945.

Today there's no indication at the federal chancellery that this is where Dolfuss was killed – after all, memorials to fascists aren't too popular these days. However, ask about and you might be able to find someone to point out where the dark deed occurred.

 

Enjoy this guide to the inner city's dark spots? Let us know and we'll be back with more dark Viennese surprises!


 

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Everything you need to know about renting a car in Vienna

If you want to rent a car in Vienna, you can choose from a variety of options, including car-sharing services, rental companies, and platforms for comparing offers.

Everything you need to know about renting a car in Vienna

In the Austrian capital, you can find different types of car-sharing services. In fact, the city operates its own affordable car-sharing service with many different sustainable cars ready to be used.

If you prefer a rental company, there are alternatives to choose from with multiple pick-up locations all over the city.

Car sharing services

WienMobile Auto is a car-sharing service offered by the city of Vienna and operated by Wiener Linien, Vienna’s public transportation company. This service offers flexibility with all-inclusive packages and stations all over the city where you can pick up the cars. The service mainly offers electric and hybrid cars at an affordable price starting from €2.60 per hour.

Through the service, you can rent a car for a couple of hours, one day or maximum a weekend (Friday to Monday). You are only allowed to drive inside of the state of Vienna. 

If you plan to rent the cars more often, you can sign up for a membership and pay a monthly fee which gives you discounts on your rentals.

Gomore.at is another platform for car sharing. Here, you can rent a car directly from its owner. The platform offers convenient filters to help you find the type of car you search for. After reserving the car, the owner will confirm whether the days are available and then send you the necessary information. 

The car owners tend to be flexible, and you can rent cars for just a few hours, a couple of days, or even a week or two.

You are usually allowed to drive the cars outside of Vienna, and maybe also outside of Austria, it depends on the specific terms and conditions set by the car owner.

SHARE NOW is a car-sharing service also operating in Vienna. Using a mobile app, you can easily locate and rent cars for short periods. The service offers a wide range of cars, including compact cars and electric and hybrid cars, making it convenient for various needs. You can unlock the cars through the app, drive to their destination, and drop off the car at any designated parking spot around the city. 

Through the service, you can rent a car for just a few minutes or even up to two weeks. You are in general allowed to drive wherever you feel like, although with some reservations. To make sure that your planned trip is accepted, contact the service directly to ask.

READ ALSO: The best websites for buying a used car in Austria

Cars on a road during sunset in Austria. Photo by Michael Pointner on Unsplash

Car rental companies

Vienna’s many car rental companies offer a wide range of options. They also offer loyalty programs where frequent car renters can get special deals. 
 
 
With a car from a rental company, you can travel wherever you want and rent the cars for extended periods, even for weeks.
 
Here we list Vienna’s five most popular car rental companies:
 
Avis Car Rental offers a wide selection of different cars at multiple locations across Vienna, including the airport. The service also has a loyalty program, where you can enjoy different services and rewards for frequent rentals. Booking is made through the company’s website or mobile app.

Sixt Rental has a great variety of cars. You can book and manage your rental easily through their app, and they often have special deals. The company is flexible with how long you can rent a car, and they offer extra services such as GPS monitors if you need it.

Budget Car Rental offers affordable rental options with pick-up locations all over Vienna. Here, you can choose from a wide range of cars to fit various travel needs and preferences, from compact cars to SUVs and vans. Booking is easy through their website or mobile app.

Hertz has lots of different types of cars available to rent in Vienna, and you can find them in many places around the city. If you sign up for their loyalty program, you can get faster service and maybe even a better car without paying extra. The company is also known for being reliable.

Europcar is another company offering a great variety of different cars for rent. You can easily choose how long you want to rent them for, and the rental locations are found in various places all over Vienna, including larger train stations. If you join their loyalty program, you can get free rental days and other benefits.

Compare rental offers

If you want to compare offers from multiple car rental companies, it is a good idea to use platforms such as Expedia, Rentalcars.com, and Kayak.

Here, you can compare different offers and find the most suitable one in terms of price, location, and other factors.

The platforms also often present you with discounts and promotions.

READ NEXT: Everything you need to know about Austria’s driving exam

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